GUYANA now has one more tool to enhance the delivery of quality health care, with the addition of the RotaTeq vaccine to the immunisation programme.
It is expected to significantly reduce the number of infant mortalities, Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said, after the first two infants were vaccinated yesterday at Regency Suites Hotel, on Hadfield Street, Georgetown. This country has received the first batch of 12,500 doses, costing US$400,000, which is available for use locally.
Ramsammy said children will be treated first but more of the medicine is expected to arrive soon.
According to him: “This is a milestone in our immunisation programme which has been a flagship project for the Ministry of Health.”
Ramsammy pointed out that, in other parts of the world, such as the United States (U.S.), the RotaTeq vaccine can cost as much as US$100 each.
However, here it is provided free of charge, with assistance from Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) and Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunisation (GAVI).
RotaTeq is taken through the mouth and used to prevent rotavirus infection, believed to be the cause of diarrhoeal diseases in children and those under one year old, who are more susceptible to the sickness, are largely the recipients of  the vaccines.
The minimum age for the first dose is six weeks and a total of three doses are required to be administered, preferably to two, four and six months olds.
After 12 weeks old, infants will not receive the RotaTeq.
Ramsammy said, over the years, infant mortally has reduced and the introduction of the vaccine will advance efforts in this quest.
He said the Health Ministry, in 2008, recorded a total of 53,000 cases of diarrhoea countrywide, 50 per cent of which were children.

Contributory factor
“Not all of these cases were caused by the rotavirus but it is a major contributory factor for diarrhoea in our children,” Ramsammy stated.
He said the total number of 2008 children deaths resulting from diarrhoea was 45; in 2007 48; in 2005 and 2006 there were 76 and, in 2004, 50.
Ramsammy said the vaccine will further reduce the incidence and he lauded the efforts of health workers, urging them to use the new tool towards that objective.
He said there is much to be done because no child deserves to die.
“We are making small steps that will have great impacts,” Ramsammy said.
“This vaccine will have a huge impact in terms of our children’s health, in terms of our nation’s health.”
Ramsammy said, too, that the introduction of RotaTeq vaccines will also contribute to the achievement of Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Four that aims at reducing child mortality.
Earlier yesterday, a training session was conducted at the same venue for health workers from all the Administrative Regions, except in the hinterland.
Dr. Janice Woolford, Director of Maternal and Child Health, said a similar course will be taken to hinterland areas as the aim is to sensitise health workers of the vaccine, how to administer it and its side effects.
She said Regions Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands), Four (Demerara/ Mahaica), Five (Mahaica/Berbice), Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) and Ten (Upper Demerara/Berbice) will get the RotaTeq vaccines.
The distribution will be done in phases and phase two will be undertaken in Regions One (Barima/Waini), Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam) and Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni), with the final phase in hinterland regions, Woolford disclosed.