Latest news with #MeaslesRubella
The Herald
7 days ago
- Health
- The Herald
Gauteng health MEC warns against online vaccine misinformation
Gauteng health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has sounded the alarm on vaccine misinformation, urging parents not to rely on social media for medical advice as the province launches a mass campaign to stop the spread of measles and rubella. Nkomo-Ralehoko was speaking at Steve Biko Primary School in Orange Farm during the launch of the province's Measles-Rubella Mass Vaccination Campaign which aims to immunise more than 4-million children aged between six months and under 15 years by September 12. 'To all parents, I want to assure you that this vaccine is free, effective and safe. Do not listen to fake news or misinformation spreading on social media. The lies you read online can cost a life. If you have doubts, do not go to TikTok or Facebook talk to our health professionals at your nearest clinic or district co-ordinators. They will give you facts, not fear,' said Nkomo-Ralehoko. The six-week campaign which is themed 'Lifelong Protection against Measles and Rubella Disease,' comes as Gauteng battles a measles outbreak with more than 370 confirmed cases so far this year with the hardest-hit areas being Tshwane, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni. 'These are not mere statistics. These are real children who were at risk of facing serious complications if we failed to act now,' she said. She explained that the MR (Measles-Rubella) vaccine is part of the country's regular child immunisation schedule and is typically given at six and 12 months. The campaign is offering a booster dose to strengthen protection and reach children who may have missed their shots. Vaccinations will be administered in schools, crèches, clinics, taxi ranks, malls and even door-to-door in some communities. Hospitals have also set up additional vaccination points and parents have been issued consent forms through schools. 'Our nurses and health teams are ready. I urge parents, caregivers and guardians to please sign and return the consent forms so we can protect our children,' said Nkomo-Ralehoko. She also spoke about the corner-to-corner campaign, which helps health workers review children's road to health booklets and administer catch-up doses. 'Every missed vaccine is an opportunity for measles to spread. Let us not give the disease a chance,' she said. The MEC appealed to the public and institutions to support the campaign calling on the Gauteng education department, NGOs, faith leaders, private hospitals and universities to join the effort.
Free Malaysia Today
04-08-2025
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Health ministry to roll out free measles-rubella jabs for children
The nationwide campaign aims to boost immunisation coverage and support Malaysia's goal of eliminating measles by 2030. (File pic) PUTRAJAYA : The health ministry will roll out a free nationwide Measles‑Rubella Supplementary Immunisation Activity from Aug 4 to Oct 12 for children aged six months to 59 months. The ministry said the campaign targets children born between Aug 1, 2020, and Jan 31, 2025, aiming to strengthen the existing immunisation programme by boosting and restoring herd immunity. The programme also supports the national goal of eliminating measles by 2030, with the primary objective of raising immunisation coverage and providing early protection to prevent wider transmission, it said in a statement. Measles and rubella are highly contagious and can lead to serious complications, including ear infections, pneumonia, encephalitis, seizures, and in some cases, death. The ministry said both diseases are preventable through the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine. Under the national immunisation programme, the MMR vaccine is administered at nine and 12 months, while Sabah administers an extra measles dose at six months. 'Overall, Malaysia's immunisation coverage has exceeded 95% annually, including in 2024. However, only 62% of districts achieved MMR coverage above 95% in 2024,' the ministry said. It said a minimum of 95% coverage is crucial to achieve herd immunity and control the spread of the disease. Official data showed measles cases nearly doubled in 2024, with 3,791 cases recorded compared to 2,002 in 2023. The number of outbreaks rose to 231, from 112 the previous year. Of the reported cases, 44.1% involved children under five years old, while 28.9% were non-citizens, of whom 84.3% had never been vaccinated. Three measles-related deaths were recorded last year, all involving unvaccinated non‑citizen children aged eight months, three years, and 17 years. The ministry urged parents and guardians to promptly bring eligible children for the free supplementary measles‑rubella (MR) vaccination. Appointments will be sent via MySejahtera, or can be made directly in the app. Walk‑ins are also accepted at government health clinics, it said.
Mint
21-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Zydus bets big on vaccines and medtech
Mumbai: Zydus Lifesciences Ltd is looking to ramp up its vaccines and medtech portfolio over the next few years, the company's top executive told investors during an earnings call Tuesday evening. The drugmaker, which announced its Q4FY25 results the same day, expects double-digit revenue growth in FY26, led by strong performance in both domestic and international markets, as well as newer businesses such as biologics, vaccines, and medtech. '...led by strong growths in India and international markets and also our new growth themes like biologics, vaccines and all scaling up,' managing director Sharvil Patel told investors. The company expects to outperform the Indian pharmaceutical market in FY26, while projecting single-digit growth in the US. The management has guided for an Ebitda margin of about 26% in FY26. Zydus closed FY25 with its highest-ever operating profit and margins. Consolidated revenue rose 19% year-on-year to ₹ 23,241.5 crore, with an Ebitda margin of 30.4%. Patel said he is 'quite upbeat and positive on the overall trajectory for the business and the opportunity' in vaccines. In FY25, Zydus began development of the world's first combination vaccine for shigellosis (bacillary dysentery) and typhoid, with support from the Gates Foundation. 'We shall conduct early stage development, animal immunogenicity studies and the regulatory preclinical tox studies for this combination vaccine,' he said. The company also received regulatory approval to begin phase 2 clinical trials for its bivalent TCV vaccine in the March quarter. '...with potential access now to both India's public [market] and the WHO pre-qualified public markets we are seeing a good trajectory for the vaccines in terms of scaling it up,' he said. Zydus' vaccine strategy spans three core areas, according to Patel. In India, the business is performing well, and the company expects to be a significant contender in upcoming public tenders. 'We believe that we are a critical contender in the public tenders for the MR (Measles Rubella) vaccine that has come out, and we believe that will be an important MR tender supply for Zydus in the coming year,' he said. It is also seeing demand from multilateral agencies. '...we will be able to participate in some of these tenders. So that could offer additional opportunities in the coming years,' Patel said, referring to UNICEF and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO). The company plans to register some of its products in markets such as Egypt, which could open up further opportunities. 'Our non-tender sales are doing very well. We are selling, I think, the highest doses of the flu vaccines now. We are selling out all capacities on our rabies vaccine. We have the other two vaccines that are coming up and the new vaccines that are getting added to the portfolio,' Patel said. Zydus entered the medtech space last fiscal with the acquisition of a majority stake in French orthopaedic company Amplitude Surgical SA. The company is also developing capabilities in nephrology and cardiovascular devices organically. 'Medical devices is an important area for the organization and we have had important both organic as well as inorganic opportunities that we have looked at and have been successful at,' Patel said. 'Some of these are already revenue generating and profit making businesses. So, we will look to add more geographies, bring down cost and increase and grow this business,' he added. 'It is not going to be short term…the scale up we'll really get to see after three years.' Zydus is forecasting high single-digit growth in the US market in FY26, though it faces pressure from tapering sales of its Revlimid generic and a decline in market share for its Asacol HD generic. The company has a pipeline of 14-15 critical launches lined up for FY27, and believes its base business in the US–now over $1 billion in revenue–remains strong. Addressing concerns over potential import tariffs in the US, Patel said the company is evaluating opportunities for local manufacturing. 'But any of these decisions will require a lot of time for setting up, so it's not something that can happen in the short term,' he said. 'We have committed to making a good amount of investments in the US with our foray into specialty and other areas.'
