Time To Come Clean: Health Ministry Defends Rubella Immunization Campaign Amidst Reports Of Deaths

By PATRICK JARAMOGI

Kampala, Uganda| SHIFT MEDIA NEWS (UG) Following a reported death of a toddler as a result of reactions from the recent mass Measles-Rubella immunization campaign, Health Minister Dr. Ruth Jane Aceng has come out and stated the reports are false, rather describing the immunization as safe.

The deceased, a boy, whom we are yet to identify reportedly died on Thursday at the pediatric unit in Mulago National Referral Hospital. Medics told Shift Media News in confidence that the boy had signs of Stevenson Johnson syndrome (SJS), a severe skin and mucus membrane disorder resulting from reactions due to medication or infection.

Health Minister said samples had been taken to the Uganda Virus Research Institute and the Center for Disease Control to ascertain the cause of the reactions.

“During immunization, scores of reactions are expected. But none of these should last for a long time” said Aceng at the Media Center in Kampala.

“The MR vaccine is safe and effective and does not have any fatal side effects as is being stated in the social media post. We are happy that our children are safe, healthy and protected. Please disregard with distaste the misquoting and misinformation,” Aceng said.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also come out clear to defend the drugs used for immunizing the over 19 million children countrywide, describing them as safe.

“Before any vaccine is used, we carry out a number of tests to determine its efficacy and suitability to the general public,” said Dr. Yonas Woldermariam from WHO,

Overwhelming Immunization Campaigns

The health minister had earlier announced what she said were “exciting results” from the vaccination campaign.

“We achieved a 108% coverage of vaccination against Measles and Rubella; vaccinating 19,476,110 children against MR out of the targeted 18,100,000 for vaccination,” she told the press.

She said this was the largest vaccination campaign in the history of Uganda. “This was the first and largest vaccination campaign in the history of this country.

Three vaccines were being delivered at the same time and the widest age range. The targets were 18.1 million children for vaccination against Measles-Rubella (9 months to 15 years of age) and 8.2 million children (0-5 years of age) for Polio vaccination.

What you need to know about SJS

Stevens-Johnson syndrome, also called  SJS, is a rare but serious problem. Most often, it’s a severe reaction to a medicine you’ve taken. It causes your skin to blister and peels off.

It affects your mucus membranes, too. Blisters also form inside your body, making it hard to eat, swallow, even pee.

Getting treated right away helps protect your skin and other organs from lasting damage.

Symptoms

SJS usually starts with a fever and feeling like you have the flu. A few days later, other symptoms appear, including:

• Painful red or purple skin that looks burned and peels off
• Blisters on your skin, mouth, nose, and genitals
• Red, painful, watery eyes.

More than 100 drugs can cause SJS. Some of the most common are:

• Medicines for gout, a painful form of arthritis — especially allopurinol (Aloprim, Zyloprim)
• Pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen sodium (Aleve)
• Sulfa antibiotics, a kind of drug that fights infections (including Bactrim and Septra)
• Medicines that treat seizures or mental illness.

According to scientists, the medicines most likely to cause problems in kids are sulfa antibiotics, Tylenol, and drugs that treat seizures, especially carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol).

An infection, like pneumonia or the herpes virus that causes cold sores, can also trigger SJS. This happens more often with kids than adults.

You’re more likely to get SJS if you have:

• HIV or other problems with your immune system
• Had SJS before
• Certain genes you inherit from your parents
• Radiation treatments