The public health sector has run short of the tetanus vaccine.
A source said yesterday that a batch of the vaccine was found to be defective last month and was sent back to the supplier for replacement.
The Pan American Health Organisation, which sources tetanus immunisations for public health departments in the Caribbean, was contacted and arrangements were made to have the batch replaced.
However, they still are awaiting the replacement.
An official said: “We were informed that it would be replaced very quickly but it has been more than a month and there has not been a replacement.”
In the meantime, the various regional health authorities have been unable to provide immunisation shots to citizens, including Standard Five students across the country.
It is customary for students to get the tetanus vaccinations in school or health centres before they sit the SEA examination.
Contacted yesterday, medical director of the San Fernando General Hospital Dr Anand Chatoorgoon said he was unaware of the shortage but officials at the North West and Eastern Regional Health Authorities confirmed there was no tetanus vaccine in stock.
“We are waiting for the ministry to resolve this problem,” the official said.
Contacted yesterday, Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan said he would have to investigate if there was a shortage of the vaccine.
“I have not been apprised of this. As far as I know there is no shortage of tetanus (vaccine). It is something that doesn’t get short,” Khan said.
He added that immunisation was organised by the Minister of Health’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI).
“The EPI standing programme for immunisation is very efficient when it comes to vaccines,” Khan said.
But if there was a shortage he would address it, he added.
What is tetanus?
Tetanus, sometimes called lockjaw, is a rare disease caused by a bacterium known as clostridium tetani.
The bacterium often enters the body through a puncture wound which can be caused by nails, splinters, insect bites, burns, any skin break and injection drug sites.
The World Health Organisation said a toxin produced by the bacteria affected the function of the nerves and led to severe muscle spasms in the abdomen, neck, stomach and extremities.
Tetanus can either be localised to one part of the body or generalised, with muscle spasms throughout the body.
It has been called lockjaw because the muscle spasms in the face and neck can lead to the inability to open the mouth.This is one of the most common symptoms.
Tetanus is a serious illness and is fatal in up to 30 per cent of cases. The WHO recommends that all children and adults should be immunised against tetanus.
A booster is needed every ten years after primary immunisation or after a puncture or other skin wound which could give the tetanus bacteria an opportunity to enter the body.
Source: www.medicinenet.com /tetanus/article.htm
