1 month ago
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The Ministry of Health and Wellness is upgrading Belize’s National Vaccination Schedule through the introduction of a vaccine for Rotavirus. Rotavirus infects the intestines and causes symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and severe dehydration. These symptoms can significantly impact children’s health and long-term well-being. The virus is transmitted, either directly from person to person or indirectly by touching contaminated surfaces and materials. Dr. Natalia Beer, Maternal and Child Health Technical Advisor for the Ministry, says that the vaccine is being made available due to a seasonal increase in Rotavirus cases.
Dr. Natalia Beer, Maternal and Child Health Advisor, MOHW: “The Ministry of Health is introducing the rotavirus vaccine that is very effective in preventing the severeness of the rotavirus infection, especially in young children. So it’s three doses. It’s a vaccine that is administered in drops. First dose is at two months, second dose at four months, and third dose at six months. Every year, well, not every year, every other year we experience diarrhea outbreaks and these are related more to rotavirus because we have kids that needed to be hospitalized. And we know that rotavirus vaccine can prevent rotavirus infection. So in the best interest of the child, we need to invest in rotavirus. We have other vaccines that we need to introduce also, but we’re going one at a time so this is the term for introducing the rotavirus vaccine. The vaccine is available at all health facilities and during mobile clinic. So whenever they carry the child you know to receive the routine vaccines, the other vaccines, they can just make sure that they’re getting the rotavirus and so.”
Beer said that getting children vaccinated is important because rotaviruses can cause serious health complications for children and may even result in death depending on the severity.
Dr. Natalia Beer, Maternal and Child Health Advisor, MOHW: “When there is severe rotavirus infection, especially in children, this can cause dehydration and that is the great risk for a child to be severely dehydrated. They would need to be hospitalized. And that is what can further the complication leading to shock, cardiac arrhythmia, and death. So for parents that are listening to this news item whenever there is a child with diarrhea we need to monitor to see if it’s progressing to be severe. We don’t need to wait until the child is dehydrated. Once the diarrhea is not under control, we need to go to the nearest health facility and then they will decide if after rehydrating the child if the child needs to stay hospitalized or it can be managed at home. But especially vomiting, a child can dehydrate much faster with vomiting than just having diarrhea.”
Dr. Beer added that proper hand washing is critical in helping to prevent the spread of Rotavirus.
English (US) ·