In an interview with Horizon, PHPD Administrator Pearl Marumoto said that based on their 2007-2008 data, 92 percent of the infants were immunized against hepatitis B and 91 percent against measles.
She said that no fatalities against those killer diseases were reported owing to immediate immunization once the infant is born.
Also part of immunization program the PHPD is conducting routine vaccination against different diseases. These include: BCG (Bacillus Calmette Guerin), DTAP (Diphtheria, tetanus toxoid and acellular pertussis), DTP (Diphtheria, tetanus toxoid and pertussis), HBIG (Hepatitis B immune globulin), Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B adult dosage, Hepatitis ib (Haemphilus influenze type B vaccine), Hib-Hep B (comvax) (Haemophilus influenza type b conjugate hepatitis), Influenza, MMR (measles, mumps and rubella virus vaccination), PCVI (pneumococcal conjugate vaccine polyvalent), and polio.
As of the year 2008, the childhood immunization reached to 98 percent.
Earlier, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Australian company Sun Rice are planning to immunize at least 60,000 infants in 14 Pacific Island countries, including Palau.
Dr Eliab Some, UNICEF Pacific chief of health sanitation, said that 20 percent on average of the Pacific children are not immunized against measles and hepatitis.
The UNICEF Pacific Program’s aim is to eliminate measles, control hepatitis B and maintain a polio-free status.
The hepatitis B, which can cause lifelong liver damage and even death, is common throughout the Pacific Islands. A hepatitis B vaccination is the best protection. All babies should be immunized even though infant infection rates haven been substantially reduced.
The measles, on the other hand, is a childhood illness and potentially fatal. But it can be prevented by vaccine.
