Businesses for Health EpiC ‘small biz’ project

In PNG, a mother or father needs to take their child to a health centre seven times in the first year of life (at birth, and at 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age) to receive the full schedule of vaccines. 

Childhood vaccinations prevent children in Papua New Guinea becoming ill from diseases like measles, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, and some cases of tuberculosis, meningitis and pneumonia. 

Of 2125 children admitted to hospital with TB in 2019, 173 died.  Due to PNG's high TB burden BCG vaccine is given as soon as possible after birth, BCG is effective in preventing severe and disseminated forms of TB (such as miliary TB and TB meningitis) in young children and is working to reduce fatality rates.  To see the Child Morbidity and Mortality Annual Report 2019 [CLICK HERE](https://pngpaediatricsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/2019-Annual-Child-Morbidity-and-Mortality-Report-1.pdf)

The Pneumococcal Vaccine. is given at 1, 2 and 3 months of age. It prevents death from the commonest cause of pneumonia. The Pentavalent vaccine contains Triple Antigen (pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus), Hepatitis B and Hib vaccine in the one vaccine. The birth dose of Hepatitis B vaccine is very important and should still be given separately, the 3 later doses of Hep B are given as Pentavalent.  Use the word sleuth to learn the names of vaccines offered to children in PNG.