An uncomfortable topic for someone who is afraid of needles, like myself, but as we all have been taught, vaccines save lives.
So, each April or May depending on the delays in transportation of vaccines and syringes, Latin America gears up for a huge vaccination campaign called "Semana de Las Americas." This past Wednesday we began in the afternoon vaccinating our afternoon classes in the Nazareth school and the Haitian education program against polio, tetanus, and diptheria.
On Thursday morning we vaccinated the Cielo school and finished vaccinating the Haitian education program children. This year, unlike last year, I remembered to take pictures!
Mary vaccinated Eliezer against Tetanus and Diptheria
Brave face!
Someone is happy to know she won't be getting sick!
On Friday we vaccinated over 100 children with 126 doses of vaccines. Children under the age of 4 (1, 2 or 3 years old) received only anti-polo drops, 2 per child. Children ages 4, 5 and 6 received DPT (diptheria, polio and tetanus) vaccines in their thigh as well as anti-polio drops to reinforce the doses they have had previously. Children ages 7, 8 and 9 and teachers and teacher's aides received DT (diptheria and tetanus) vaccines.
On Monday, we return to Nazareth's school to finish up there with the 1st graders who didn't have their shot records on Friday when we were there. We are also hoping to vaccinate all Mission Emanuel employees that morning.
On Tuesday, we will be going to the Nazareth Public Elementary School (La Escuela Basica de Nazareth) to vaccinate in the morning and afternoon classes. Lots of work that day, but it will be the end of the school vaccinations. Then on Thursday, Friday and the following Monday and Tuesday health workers will go from house to house checking shot records and giving anti-polio vaccinations to children under the age of 3.
The final stage of the vaccinations campaign includes vaccinating all agricultural and construction workers against tetanus.
