Doha: On the occasion of World Immunisation Week, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is encouraging women to be informed, and protect themselves and children from vaccine-preventable diseases.
In Qatar, the H1N1 vaccine is recommended for pregnant women with lower immune systems in November to March.
“H1N1 vaccine protects against influenza (flu) caused by the H1N1 virus. It works by stimulating the body to produce antibodies against the influenza A (H1N1) flu virus, which helps the body to fight the infection,” said Dr Halima Al Tamimi, Senior Consultant Obstetrics/Gynaecology at the Women’s Hospital.
She said that pregnant women who get sick with H1N1 can have serious health problems and they can get sicker than other people who get H1N1 flu. “Some pregnant women who are sick with H1N1 have had early labour and severe pneumonia. Some have died. If you are pregnant and have symptoms of the flu, take it very seriously. Call your doctor right away for advice.”
“The meningitis vaccine is recommended if a pregnant woman wants to go on a holy pilgrimage to Makkah, because of the high concentration of people she would come in contact with on the trip,” said Dr Halima.
Also, she stated that the rubella vaccine is usually administered to females in secondary schools but said: “About 10 percent of girls in this category miss receiving this vital vaccine that protects against rubella (German measles), which is usually a mild illness but can cause serious damage to the unborn child of a pregnant woman.”
“Usually, we advise women to get vaccinated against rubella six weeks after they deliver their babies. We also suggest avoiding getting pregnant three months after so there are no complications and fetal abnormalities,” she added.
This year’s immunisation week signals a renewed global, regional, and national effort to accelerate action to increase awareness and demand for immunisation by communities, and improve vaccination delivery services. This year’s campaign focuses on closing the immunisation gap and reaching equity in immunisation levels as outlined in the Global Vaccine Action Plan, which is a framework to prevent millions of deaths by 2020 through universal access to vaccines for people in all communities.
HMC’s General Paediatrics Division head Dr Ahmad Hassan Al Hammadi said that basic vaccines are given at an early age and each of them has a specific time for starting. Each of the vaccines has to be spaced by a defined interval to ensure their effectiveness.
“In Qatar, we are following World Health Organisation’s vaccine schedule and in accordance with child’s age. A total of 12 different vaccines (Bacille Calmette-Guerin – BCG, Hepatitis B, Hexavalent, Pentavalent, Hepatitis B, Poliomyelitis and Haemophilus Influenza Type b, Rotavirus, Oral Polio, Pneumococcal, MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis A, Influenza and Meningococcal) are scheduled for children aged zero to 12 years to protect them against major life threatening diseases of childhood,” he said.
The Peninsula
