Health Ministry: Immunization for measles is free at gov’t health centres
The Health Ministry is this afternoon reminding parents that immunization for measles and other vaccine preventable diseases are offered free of cost at government health centres.
As a result, acting chief medical officer Dr Marion Bullock-Casse is urging parents who have not yet fully immunized their children to do so immediately.
Compulsory immunization for children in Jamaica begins at birth and continues until six years old.
The reminder from the health ministry comes in the wake of the current measles outbreak across the United States and in Mexico.
The United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in the first 28 days of this year there were 84 reported cases of measles in 14 states.
Local health authorities have given the assurance that they are monitoring developments in the U-S and other countries affected by the measles outbreak, but warn that all Jamaicans should ensure that their children are protected.
