Vaccination push ramps up into communities as rates dip

Health authorities have intensified the national immunisation campaign, taking services directly into communities through a series of polyclinic open days, warning that vaccination coverage has fallen short of the goal need to keep dangerous diseases at bay.

Minister of Health Lisa Cummins revealed that inoculation rates have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels: “Coverage for the first dose of measles, mumps, and rubella… increased to 89 per cent, and the second dose rose… to 86 per cent. That is meaningful progress… but… we have to be able to reach that threshold of 95 per cent coverage.”

The immunisation drive forms part of activities for the 24th Vaccination Week in the Americas, running from April 25 to May 2, under the theme “Your Decision Makes a Difference. Immunisation for All”. Health officials and international partners gathered for a special open day at the Edgar Cochrane Polyclinic on Monday on prevention, education, and access.

Addressing vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, Cummins said: “During COVID… a person just needed to have a cell phone… and they became the medical health experts… it has created any number of challenges in our communities.”

She also warned of the real risks of declining coverage: “These vaccines are protecting us from diseases that are one single flight away from our shores… if we don’t reach the 95 per cent threshold… then our communities are at risk.”

Cummins pointed to Barbados’ long-standing success in immunisation, while cautioning against complacency.

“Barbados historically has had a very proud tradition of immunization… we built a system of immunisation that has protected generations,” she said, recalling how diseases such as polio were eliminated through sustained efforts.

“Vaccines have always been and remain to this day, the most effective tool we have to protect our communities… When enough of us are protected, we create what we call… herd immunity. It is a collective shield.”

In a bid to reassure the public about safety, the minister added: “Vaccines used in Barbados… go through rigorous international testing… they meet the highest global safety standards… Our healthcare workers… are not here to pressure parents. They’re here to listen… to support and to guide.”

PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados, Amalia Del Riego, reinforced the urgency, noting that progress across the region is under threat.

“In 50 years in the region of the Americas… we have prevented 15 million deaths… and… 1.1 billion cases of disability… through immunisation,” she said.

But she warned that the situation is shifting. “We are really in a very critical situation… measles… has been re-established… and… the cases in the Americas triplicated… compared to 2025.”

Del Riego stressed the importance of immediate action: “Without a decision and engagement… we are losing if we are not very careful… we need to be a little bit more assertive… it’s really the time to act now.”

Senior Health Sister Hazel Forde underscored the purpose of the immunisation drive: “Today is centered on one simple but powerful idea. Your decision makes a difference. We are not here only to provide services, but to promote and provide advocacy, to support you, to educate you, to empower you as you take charge of your health.”

She stressed that the effort goes beyond vaccinations: “Whether you are accessing vaccinations, learning about non-communicable diseases, or taking advantage of our confidential STI testing… you are making a meaningful investment in your well-being.”

“Health, according to the World Health Organisation, is not merely the absence of disease, but a state of physical, mental and social well-being,” she said. “It is about prevention. It’s about awareness, and it’s about community.”

Forde also reminded the audience that Vaccination Week is a shared effort, not just a campaign. “Vaccination week is more than a campaign, it’s a movement… health is a shared responsibility. And that by working together we can protect generations from preventable disease.”

Cummins stressed that most parents support vaccination, but everyday challenges can get in the way. “Life happens… people get busy. Some parents sometimes forget appointments… it’s okay to have questions… and that’s what our medical health professionals… are here for.”

The polyclinic open days offer a range of services including immunisations, health screenings, and education sessions, as officials seek to close gaps in coverage and reach underserved populations.

(LE)