Child immunisation campaign begins

The National Department of Health has announced that it will embark on a national immunisation programme for children in South Africa.

It will be targeting diseases including polio, whooping cough and diphtheria in a bid to cut child mortality rates.

According to a health report on children showing immunisation rates from 2008-09, over 88% of children under one year old received vaccinations, while 73% of children under five were immunised in the same period. Additionally, there were no cases of measles reported from 2008-09.