SUVA – The threat of cervical cancer and the prevalence of pneumonia and diarrhoea in infants could prove to be a thing of the past with the introduction of three new vaccines in Fiji
Acting permanent secretary for Health Dr Josefa Koroivueta confirmed the three new vaccines – the Pneumococcal Vaccine, Rotavirus and the Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine (HPV) would be administered from next year
Dr Koroivueta explained the Pneumococcal Vaccine and the Rotavirus would be given to children to decrease the incidence of pneumonia and diarrhoea, which contributed to the high number of infant deaths
He said the vaccines had shown positive responses when administered in other countries.
“The introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine has shown a significant reduction in all pneumonia hospitalisations in children under two years in the USA and Australia,” Dr Koroivueta said.
“The introduction of rotavirus vaccine into the USA and Australia has shown a significant reduction on all-cause acute gastroenteritis admissions, rotavirus diarrhoea admissions, and resulted in considerable savings in the health sector.”
Dr Koroivueta said the HPV vaccine would be administered to girls to prevent cervical cancer.
