SUVA, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Fiji's nationwide meningococcal vaccination campaign was launched in the capital Suva on Friday, with over 300,000 people to be vaccinated.
The vaccinating will be rolled out from Monday. Those between the age of one and 19 will be vaccinated in the island nation during the campaign.
Fiji's Ministry of Health has acquired over 124,000 doses of vaccine for the first phase of the program, and another batch of 200,000 doses is being procured and expected to arrive soon.
World Health Organization Pacific Technical Support Officer Wendy Snowdon said on Friday that it was important that individuals got vaccinated.
"For meningococcal disease this is particularly important as we know that not everyone who has bacteria will get the disease. Approximately 10-25 percent of the general population will carry the bacteria at the back of their nose and mouth from time to time but will not have any symptoms. This is why for Fiji to have a successful mass immunization campaign it needs as many children and adolescents between the ages of one and 19 years to get vaccinated," said Snowdon.
Fiji's Ministry of Health had declared an outbreak of the life threatening meningococcal disease in March this year.
At the time the island nation with a population of more than 880,000 had recorded 18 cases of the meningococcal disease, an increase from previous level.
Health authorities confirmed earlier this month that there were 58 reported cases of meningococcal from Jan. 1 to April 22 this year.
Minister for Health and Medical Services Rosy Akbar had said that out of the 58 cases, 24 were laboratory confirmed, and 34 were either suspected or probable cases based on clinical diagnosis by a doctor. As of April 22, all confirmed cases were below the age of 19.
There have been four confirmed deaths from the meningococcal disease this year from the age group of less than five years old.
Fiji's Ministry of Health continued to intensify its public health awareness and monitor the reported cases.