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Health: Sensitization and Rubella Vaccination in my community

INTRODUCTION

In my community in Ugwunagbo Local government area, we take the health of our children/wards seriously as it remains a top priority in the scheme healthy living. One of the important steps we can take to protect them is ensuring they receive vaccination against Rubella disease. This vaccination is given to children within a specific age bracket to prevent serious health complications that may arise from the disease. As parents, guardians, and community members, it is our responsibility to understand why this vaccine is important and to support immunization programs in our area.

About The Rubella Disease

When I first heard about the name of this virus, it sounded more like a girl's or lady's name to me. So I laughed when I heard the name.

During the sensitization of this virus by the health workers in my community, I had to know that Rubella is a viral infection which is caused by the Rubella virus otherwise known as the German measles. The health workers informed the public that, in many children, the virus could cause swollen glands, mild fever and rashes. Since the Symptom testing this virus comes with mild fever, it looks as if the virus is not worth paying so much attention.

Rubella vaccination by health workers, in my community

Transmission of Rubella virus

Rubella is a fast and easy spreading virus from one person to another passing through the air. So it is airborne. When the contact or infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, there are tiny droplets which carry the virus and infect others around.

The community was informed that the virus is also transmitted through close contact with an infected person passing through their nasal or throat secretions.

Since our children play together, go to school together, and have interaction more closely with one another, this disease can now spread so quickly in a communities if these children are not presented for vaccination.

According to the health workers, Rubella has no specific cure. If a child gets infected, treatment only helps to reduce symptoms like fever and the discomfort that comes with it. This is now the important reason for much emphasis to be made on prevention.

Rubella can be prevented by vaccination. The health workers goes on to say that the vaccines are safe, very effective, and then gives long-term protection.

The age bracket for Rubella vaccination l
As with every other vaccination, there is an age bracket for vaccination. The age bracket for Rubella vaccination is for children between the ages of9 months to 14 years.

High point places for vaccination
There certain places marked out to carry out the vaccination. These places are seen to be where children would be found. The places where the children could be found to get them immunized are:

• Households
• Play grounds
• Schools
• Churches

The health workers visited these places to vaccinate the children against the Rubella virus. The vaccination lasted for ten days and information about the children vaccinated were properly recorded.

Having been fully sensitized about the disease, parents, teachers and other persons having and taking custody or care of children, were really seen complying with the health workers to get their wards vaccinated.