“The Ministry of Health plans to launch the vaccination campaign against meningococcal meningitis strain A from 3 to 14 December throughout the country,” said Thaddée Ndikumana, Minister of Health in a press conference held on November 8.
A child receiving the vaccine in one Bujumbura Hospitals
The last vaccination against this disease took place in 1992 and its immunity lasts ten years. “We noticed that the Burundian population is not protected,” said Ndikumana.
He indicates that the results of the diagnostics performed after lumbar punctures have proved that some children develop meningococcal meningitis A. “We therefore decided to protect the Burundian population,” he said adding that the most affected people are aged between 1 and 29.
He said that the vaccination campaign will jointly be conducted by the Ministry of Health and the administration. In addition to the Health Ministry staff, directors of various health districts will recruit paramedics or physicians to work during this campaign.
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