In Mayotte, childhood vaccination coverage is insufficient, and several cases of serious or fatal diseases could have been prevented through vaccination. The pertussis outbreak that began in 2017 resulted in the deaths of two infants. Many children are not adequately protected against vaccine-preventable childhood diseases, which could lead to a resurgence of outbreaks. That is why the Indian Ocean Regional Health Agency and Santé publique France are launching a vaccination campaign in Mayotte in close collaboration with all local stakeholders. It will be implemented on the ground by Santé publique France, which is mobilizing more than 100 professionals from the Health Reserve.

Up to 40,000 children vaccinated in 6 weeks

From May 22 to June 30, 2018, parents are urged to have their children aged 0 to 6 vaccinated, and their participation is essential. During these six weeks, 39 temporary vaccination centers (2 health clinics, 6 PMI branches, 12 Youth and Culture Centers, 9 schools, and 10 public facilities under the jurisdiction of city halls) will be open to the public across the entire island to vaccinate approximately 40,000 children. This distribution covers more than half of the municipalities to facilitate access for all residents of the island.

Depending on their vaccination status, children may receive up to three free vaccines against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR vaccine), diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, hepatitis B, polio, Haemophilus infections (Hexa vaccine), and pneumococcus. PMI centers will continue to monitor children’s vaccination status after the campaign.

To view the schedule and list of centers, visit: www.ocean-indien.ars.sante.fr

An information campaign to inform residents

Starting May 22, 2018, an information campaign is being launched by the Indian Ocean Regional Health Agency and Santé publique France and rolled out across various media to remind everyone of the individual and collective benefits of vaccination.

• A radio spot highlights the importance and necessity of vaccination to protect children’s health,

• A local poster campaign in town halls, schools, and other venues provides information on the reasons for and practical details of the vaccination campaign,

• Information is being shared by all local stakeholders—mayors, health professionals, maternal and child health centers, and schools—to inform the public and address their main questions.

"To be fully protected, all children must be vaccinated"

The only way to protect yourself: vaccination

Vaccination is the most effective preventive measure to protect against diseases and reduce the risk of epidemics in the population. The more people are vaccinated, the more we reduce the spread of the bacteria or virus in question, and the more we reduce the number of cases among both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.

Learn everything about vaccines: vaccination-info-service.fr

100 healthcare professionals from the Health Reserve mobilized

To carry out this large-scale vaccination campaign, the Ministry of Solidarity and Health and the Indian Ocean Regional Health Agency have tasked Santé Publique France with mobilizing healthcare professionals from the Health Reserve and the Pharmaceutical Establishment. This operation requires the mobilization of more than 100 reservists (doctors, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, midwives, nurses) to vaccinate children, as well as the delivery and administration of nearly 100,000 vaccine doses.

The Health Reserve: Healthcare Professionals Ready to RespondManaged by Santé publique France, the Health Reserve is a government mechanism established under the Public Health Code. It comprises more than 2,000 volunteer healthcare professionals. Mobilized by the Ministry of Health or at the request of a regional health agency, the Health Reserve is called upon to intervene when a public health situation requires human resources support, particularly to bolster healthcare provision but also to help implement preventive measures.

The Pharmaceutical Agency, the government’s strategic stockpile of medicines and health products. Its role is to procure, store, and, if necessary, organize the rapid delivery of medicines and health products needed to protect the population in the event of a serious health crisis.

Learn more about the Health Reserve and the Pharmaceutical Agency

See also

• The Ministry of Solidarity and Health is deploying Santé publique France’s Health Reserve for a vaccination campaign in Mayotte. Press release dated May 17, 2018.

• Vaccination campaign in Mayotte from May 22 to June 30, 2018. Press release dated May 17, 2018.