LAt the weekly press conference following the Government Council this Thursday, January 23, the Minister Delegate to the Head of Government responsible for relations with Parliament, Mustapha Baitas, sounded the alarm on this worrying phenomenon.
Baitas said the spread of false information aimed at discrediting vaccination is one of the main reasons for the resurgence of measles in the country. This information, often relayed on social networks and by certain groups hostile to vaccination, fuels fears linked to side effects, even though they are considered “limited and common to all medicines” by health authorities.
According to the government spokesperson, these alarmist speeches have led to a notable decline in vaccination rates, particularly among children, thus accentuating the vulnerability of the population to diseases which, like measles, can have serious complications. or even fatal. This decline is also explained by the disruptions to vaccination programs during the Covid-19 pandemic.
-To deal with this situation, the government has put in place a series of emergency measures. Mustapha Baitas indicated that a monitoring and monitoring system has been established through the National Public Health Emergency Operations Center, as well as 12 dedicated regional centers. A national catch-up vaccination campaign has also been launched, particularly targeting unvaccinated or insufficiently vaccinated children.
At the same time, coordination efforts were deployed with the education and interior sectors to check the vaccination status of children under 12 years old. The authorities also ensure medical follow-up of reported cases, particularly among close contacts of affected people.
The minister urged parents and various civil society actors to get actively involved in ongoing vaccination efforts, emphasizing the importance of combating misinformation around this issue.
