Get vaccinated or do not go to school, says Trinidad's health minister

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Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – The Government of Trinidad and Tobago has stated that it will not allow unvaccinated measles students to be enrolled from the new semester beginning in September.

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said some unvaccinated students were being admitted to the education system due to inadequate school checks.

The Government stated that the prohibition was in accordance with Section 3 (1) of the Public Health Act (the Vaccination of Nursery and Primary Schools Act), which states that "no person shall be admitted to a nursery or primary school without producing to its director an immunization certificate for all communicable diseases. "

Deyalsingh said that he was warning parents, guardians and school officials of his intention to "strictly enforce the law" with respect to vaccines against measles, mumps and rubella (MMRI and II).

The Minister of Health said that although Trinidad and Tobago does not currently have a measles outbreak, the ministry will launch a vaccination campaign to prevent the virus as measles cases entered the country. Venezuela, Brazil and Saint Lucia.

In the United States, a measles outbreak has been declared. At least 704 people have been ill this year because of the highly contagious and potentially deadly disease.

Last month, the Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CAROHA) urged people in the region to be vaccinated, noting that safe and effective vaccines have been available for many years and can prevent deaths. due to diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough. and measles.

The most effective way to prevent these potentially life-threatening diseases or the serious consequences of these diseases is vaccination, "said CARPHA, adding that the Caribbean has long been a leader among the world's regions," with our countries implementing raised in the world. delivery of vaccination programs ".

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