Rotavirus vaccine made part of immunisation plan

The Central Administration for Preventive Medicine at the Ministry of Health, UAE has launched the Rotavirus vaccine as part of the national immunisation programme.

Highlighting the importance of the immunisation programme, Dr Hussein Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for Health Centres and Clinics, said: “Immunisation is the best and safest way to protect children from infectious diseases…. Such programmes maintain the public health of community members saves children from infectious diseases.”

The programme includes children less than five years, school students, adults, passengers, workers, as well as categories that are exposed to dangers.

In its fight, MoH states the UAE has eradicated a number of targeted infectious diseases such as chicken pox, polio, neonatal tetanus, measles, rubella and control infectious diseases like tuberculosis and those affecting children.

According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the Rotavirus causes gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and intestines), which can result in severe diarrhoea, often with vomiting, fever, and abdominal pain.

In babies and young children, it can lead to dehydration.

The CDC states, globally, it causes more than a half a million deaths each year in children younger than five years of age.
 

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