http://www.channelnewsasia.com/mobile/singapore/moh-urges-parents-to-get/2819320.html
MOH urges parents to get children vaccinated against measles following surge in cases
POSTED: 26 May 2016 19:21 **UPDATED: 26 May 2016 20:32
A vial of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and an information sheet is seen at Boston Children's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder)
A
A
SINGAPORE:*There has been an increase in the number of cases of measles reported this year, the Ministry of Health (MOH)*said in a press release on Thursday (May 26).
From Jan 1 to May 21, there have been a total of 50 reported measles cases, about two times more than the 17 cases in 2015 during the same period, MOH said.*
Of the cases reported this year, 40 of them involved Singaporean patients and 34 of these were children, said MOH. 17 of these children were under the age of one year, who were not yet due for their first measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination. MOH added that 14 were children between the ages of one and six who had missed their MMR vaccinations and three were one-year-olds who had received only their first MMR vaccination.
Under the Infectious Diseases Act,*MMR vaccinations are compulsory for children in Singapore. The first dose should be given when the child is 12 months old, and the second dose between the age of 15 and 18 months. Both doses are needed for the vaccination to give lifelong protection against MMR.*
MOH said it is important that young children receive both doses of the vaccination on time, and pre-school children who miss either or both doses should be vaccinated without delay.
VACCINATION THE BEST PREVENTION AGAINST MEASLES: MOH
ADVERTISING
inRead invented by Teads
MOH said that vaccination is the best preventive measure against measles, which is a highly infectious disease spread through air droplets and direct contact with nasal and throat secretions. It added that*a patient could already be infectious*even before symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat and rashes set in.
"MOH reminds parents that measles vaccination is compulsory and they should bring their children for vaccination if they have not done so, or missed the vaccination schedule," it added.
Apart from children, the Health Ministry advised other family members who have not been vaccinated to do so, especially if there is a baby being cared for at home. As with children, adults who have not been previously vaccinated should receive two doses, while those who have received only one dose should receive the second as well.*
The MMR vaccination is available at polyclinics, private general practitioner clinics and private paediatric clinics, and is fully subsidised for Singapore citizens at polyclinics. Singaporeans can also use their Medisave to cover the cost of the vaccination at private clinics, MOH added.
The Health Ministry said the National Immunisation Registry at the Health Promotion Board routinely sends out reminder letters to all children who have not had their measles vaccinations by the age of two.*School health services provide the vaccine to Primary One students who did not receive the second dose in their pre-school years.
- CNA/mz
MOH urges parents to get children vaccinated against measles following surge in cases
POSTED: 26 May 2016 19:21 **UPDATED: 26 May 2016 20:32
A vial of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and an information sheet is seen at Boston Children's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder)
A
A
SINGAPORE:*There has been an increase in the number of cases of measles reported this year, the Ministry of Health (MOH)*said in a press release on Thursday (May 26).
From Jan 1 to May 21, there have been a total of 50 reported measles cases, about two times more than the 17 cases in 2015 during the same period, MOH said.*
Of the cases reported this year, 40 of them involved Singaporean patients and 34 of these were children, said MOH. 17 of these children were under the age of one year, who were not yet due for their first measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination. MOH added that 14 were children between the ages of one and six who had missed their MMR vaccinations and three were one-year-olds who had received only their first MMR vaccination.
Under the Infectious Diseases Act,*MMR vaccinations are compulsory for children in Singapore. The first dose should be given when the child is 12 months old, and the second dose between the age of 15 and 18 months. Both doses are needed for the vaccination to give lifelong protection against MMR.*
MOH said it is important that young children receive both doses of the vaccination on time, and pre-school children who miss either or both doses should be vaccinated without delay.
VACCINATION THE BEST PREVENTION AGAINST MEASLES: MOH
ADVERTISING
inRead invented by Teads
MOH said that vaccination is the best preventive measure against measles, which is a highly infectious disease spread through air droplets and direct contact with nasal and throat secretions. It added that*a patient could already be infectious*even before symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat and rashes set in.
"MOH reminds parents that measles vaccination is compulsory and they should bring their children for vaccination if they have not done so, or missed the vaccination schedule," it added.
Apart from children, the Health Ministry advised other family members who have not been vaccinated to do so, especially if there is a baby being cared for at home. As with children, adults who have not been previously vaccinated should receive two doses, while those who have received only one dose should receive the second as well.*
The MMR vaccination is available at polyclinics, private general practitioner clinics and private paediatric clinics, and is fully subsidised for Singapore citizens at polyclinics. Singaporeans can also use their Medisave to cover the cost of the vaccination at private clinics, MOH added.
The Health Ministry said the National Immunisation Registry at the Health Promotion Board routinely sends out reminder letters to all children who have not had their measles vaccinations by the age of two.*School health services provide the vaccine to Primary One students who did not receive the second dose in their pre-school years.
- CNA/mz
