274,612 people have been immunised under the National Meningococcal Immunisation Program in Fiji.
The Minister for Health Rosy Akbar says that while the Ministry has achieved 84% of the target coverage, efforts are made to reachout to the other 16% of the targeted age groups.
Akbar says the health outreach team with the assistance of the Community Health Workers are visiting house to house in the divisions.
She says that there is a wide spread network of Community Health Workers who will be assisting the outreach teams so that they are able to target every individual within the 1 to 19 year age group to get the immunisation.
The National Meningococcal Immunisation has been rolled out nationally through a funding of $11 million of which $9 million has been provided by government and $2 million through donor funding.
She says they are also advising the parents that the vaccinations is still available at the health facilities, in case their children may have missed out, they can visit their nearest health centre or nursing station to receive the immunisation.
Meanwhile, as the Health Ministry continues with its outreach awareness programs on prevention of meningococcal they are also advising families to familiarise themselves with the symptoms of the disease and practice proper hygiene to prevent it from spreading.
The Ministry says symptoms of meningococcal disease, especially for older children and adults include sudden fever, vomiting, headache, and stiff neck/backache.
It says other symptoms include nausea, eyes become sensitive to light, confusion and a rash where red/purple spots are seen on the skin.
The Health Ministry says that if there is any sign suspect meningococcal disease, immediately go to a health facility to be assessed.
