In response to a Yellow Fever outbreak in December 2023, the Ministry of Well being, supported by the World Well being Group (WHO), UNICEF and different companions, performed a yellow fever vaccination marketing campaign in Western Equatoria State. The marketing campaign focused Yambio, Nzara, Ibba, Ezzo, and Tambura Counties, reaching 465 798 individuals with the lifesaving vaccine.
The outbreak, confirmed on 24 December 2023, marked the area’s second main outbreak in over three years, following a earlier episode within the neighboring county of Kajo Keji in 2020. The marketing campaign aimed to vaccinate roughly 608 268 people aged 9 months to 65 years. Regardless of logistical challenges and the complexities of working in a conflict-affected space, the initiative achieved a 77% protection fee, highlighting the difficulties in reaching all focused people.
The Worldwide Coordinating Group on Yellow Fever Provision launched 610 000 doses of the Yellow Fever vaccine, enabling the Ministry of Well being and its companions to launch the vaccination marketing campaign. The marketing campaign was bolstered by substantial monetary help from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which offered the mandatory funding to facilitate the logistics and distribution of vaccines.
Dr Humphrey Karamagi, the WHO Consultant for South Sudan, mirrored on the marketing campaign’s outcomes and the continual challenges: “Attaining 77% protection in such a difficult setting is commendable, but it additionally underscores the necessity for sustained efforts to achieve all at-risk populations. Our workforce’s dedication to conducting thorough epidemiological investigations and fascinating with communities was instrumental in mitigating the outbreak’s affect”.
“This marketing campaign has laid a robust basis, however to make sure complete safety towards future outbreaks, it’s crucial to incorporate the Yellow Fever vaccine in South Sudan’s Nationwide Immunization Schedule,” stated Dr Karamagi, stressing the significance of additional integrating Yellow Fever vaccinations into the nationwide framework”.
Info to find out about Yellow Fever
• Yellow fever is an infectious illness transmitted by mosquitoes that chunk largely through the day.
• As of 2023, 34 nations in Africa and 13 nations in Central and South America are both endemic for or have areas which can be endemic for, yellow fever.
• Yellow fever is prevented by a vaccine, which is secure and reasonably priced. A single dose of yellow fever vaccine is ample to grant life-long safety.
• A modelling research primarily based on African information sources estimated the burden of yellow fever throughout 2013 was 84 000–170 000 extreme instances and 29 000–60 000 deaths.
Technical Contacts:
Dr Aggrey Bategereza, E-mail: bategerezaa [at] who.int
Dr Sylvester Maleghemi, E-mail: maleghemis [at] who.int