WC Health pins falling immunisation rates among kids on disease outbreaks

The Western Cape's Health Department has pointed to falling immunisation rates among children as the leading cause of childhood disease outbreaks.

The department noted that Cape Town's urban areas, including Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain and Mfuleni, have reported increases in measles cases.

It further warns that the nationwide decline in childhood vaccinations poses a serious public health risk and the rapid spread of measles, rubella and diphtheria highlights significant gaps in population immunity.

Department spokesperson Monique Johnstone explained: “We urge parents not to assume their children are immune. Help us protect our children by taking them for their routine immunisations  and signing consent forms when our school vaccination teams visit their schools.”