THE Ministry of Health will this June introduce a vaccine against Hepatitis B and Haemophilus Influenza Type B. The new vaccine will be administered in combination with Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus vaccines.

At the same time, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture is encouraging parents whose children will enrol in basic, infant or primary level schools in May, to ensure that they are fully immunised and that they have all the necessary documents to expedite the registration process.

The documents required for registration include:

* a passport size photograph;

* a copy of the child's birth certificate; and

* an immunisation card or certificate showing that the child has been vaccinated against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, whooping cough, poliomyelitis, tuberculosis and tetanus.

"Many of the parents who fail to immunise their children today are usually young, and are not aware of the diseases," said Dr Karen Lewis-Bell, director of family health services at the Ministry of Health.

She added that the "aggressive campaign of the Ministry of Health has resulted in a reduction in infectious diseases, such as polio and measles, with the last known cases in Jamaica reported in 1982 and 1991 respectively".

She is, however, reminding parents that contacts with international travellers still puts us at a risk of contracting these diseases.

She stressed that "under the Public Health Act, 1974 and the Immunisation Regulations, 1986, all children under the age of seven must be immunised before entry to school". She said the Act also stipulates that the person authorised to admit children to any school, should not admit any child without his immunisation certificate or card.

If the child is already admitted, he should not be permitted to continue, unless his parents produce the document. Parents who fail to comply with the laws are guilty of an offence and can be charged a fine or imprisoned.

The registration of children in May is a part of the ministry's year-long Back to School Jamaica campaign that seeks to encourage preparation among the stakeholders in education, as well as encourage everyone to go back to school to acquire or renew their skills.

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