Parents urged to sign Covid-19 vaccination consent form |12 July 2022
Mrs Bijoux (Photo: Joena Meme)
The Ministry of Health has reinforced the importance of parental consent and issuance of vaccination certificate and QR code.
In a meeting with the press yesterday, the Extended Programme Immunisation (EPI) manager, Florida Bijoux, explained how the population can receive their QR code and advised parents to sign the Covid-19 consent form as the ministry is about to roll out the second dose of Covid-19 vaccination for pupils aged 12 and above.
Mrs Bijoux noted that in general only 69% of pupils (adolescents) have been fully vaccinated which means 31% are either semi vaccinated or unvaccinated.
She added that the ministry is facing issues with pupils that just turned 12.
She said that the Ministry of Health has distributed the consent forms and is urging parents to sign it regardless of whether they agree or disagree so that the ministry can have an idea how many pupils are willing to take the vaccine and how many parents wish for their kids to take it or not.
“Currently pupils are not returning with the consent forms and for us we do not understand what this means,” she said.
The EPI manager noted the biggest issue with this is that they are unsure whether the parents have received the form or pupils are discarding the form.
She added that some pupils have taken the first dose of the vaccine and have not taken the second shot.
Mrs Bijoux is appealing to the parents to approach their health centres so that their child can get their second dose.
On the consent form the parents have the option to agree to have their child vaccinated or disagree and to state their reasons.
As for the QR code, Mrs Bijoux stated that there is an office located in the Blue Roof that deals with dispensing of QR code.
She further stated that in the near future, around August 1, the health facilities will dispense the QR code directly.
The ministry is launching an appeal to the general public and especially those who need the QR code when travelling to apply early enough to get their QR code.
She noted that they have had many cases of travellers needing the QR code after 4pm or during the weekend when the centre is closed.
“Once the QR code has been given, on a paper or via email, it is valid for the number of vaccines you have taken,” said Mrs Bijoux. For example, if you have taken two doses, your QR code will have to be updated when you acquire your third dose. In terms of lifespan, there is no lifespan per se but the ministry is advised by the National Technical Advisory Group when it is time for another dose.
However people who have two full doses still qualify to get their QR code.
Mrs Bijoux stated that “those who got vaccinated in 2021 with Sinopharm and Covishield in January, Sputnik in May and Pfizer in September, should have taken their third dose and be taking their fourth dose currently”.
The EPI manager noted that the ministry is working on lowering the age of vaccination for children possibly aged five years old to 11 years old like our neighbouring country Mauritius. In the meantime the ministry is encouraging people aged 45 years and up and those with medical issues or complications to come forward and take their fourth dose.
For people who have had adverse effects from the vaccine and was ‘assessed’ by a doctor at the ministry and the doctor verified that it is from the vaccine Mrs Bijoux said they can then give out a document to certify this.
She added that if someone claims they have had adverse effects that the ministry has not verified then it will not be easy to get such document.
She further added that “if the person takes the vaccine today and gets adverse effect they need to report it so that the ministry can document it”.
When it comes to people who are naturally immunised and have not taken any vaccine, which means they had Covid-19 at some point, the EPI manager noted that they are still encouraged to take the vaccine after 8 weeks and during that time if they wish to travel they have to visit the Ministry of Health and then be consulted.
Currently the ministry is giving out Sinopharm for the first and second doses and for booster the ministry is encouraging to take Pfizer.
“When you mix vaccines, the effectiveness is greater,” Mrs Bijoux said.
She stressed that the ministry is not satisfied with the administering of the third dose as only 40% of the population has taken the booster shot and only 4% the fourth dose.
The ministry is advising the public in general to contact 4388389 or email sheilanameme@health.gov.sc in regards to QR code.
At the moment the country has 206 Covid-19 active cases.
Marla Simeon