Note to editors: Please find the attached English soundbite by Dr Jack Bloom MPL.
Vaccinations in Gauteng for children under 1 year have slipped to 78.8% from 81.2% a year ago, continuing a disturbing trend in a province where vaccination used to be close to 100% some years ago.
Measles second dose coverage at 1 year slumped even more, from 79.2% to 76.2% over the last year.
These figures are disclosed in the First Quarter Report of the Gauteng Health Department, which covers the three-month period from 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2025.
According to the department, the decrease is “largely due to caregivers defaulting on scheduled immunisation visits.”
Mitigation measures include “intensified advocacy and social mobilisation, reinforcing the booking system and defaulter tracing, conducting integrated outreach campaigns to reach zero-dose children, and strengthening collaboration with both public and private service providers.”
There have been 181 laboratory-confirmed measles cases from 1 January to 13 June this year, mostly from the Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni districts.
Immunisation coverage is below 75% in Johannesburg and Tshwane, which is well below the recommended 95% level to prevent measles outbreaks. Some chicken pox cases have also been reported.
I am concerned that vaccination campaigns have been disrupted by groups preventing non-citizens from accessing health care.
Diseases like measles, mumps, rubella, and chicken pox spread rapidly in unvaccinated children, and can threaten adults as well.
A DA-run administration would ensure sufficient staffing at clinics to close the immunity gap, with mobile units and outreach at schools to ensure all children are covered.