Low vaccination rates spark fears over polio

of having the reintroduction of some diseases that we have not seen for a very long time and potential spread, and this could be a real big problem.”

After PAHO and the WHO hosted an event Friday to promote vaccines, Dr Boission told reporters childhood immunisation has been far below the 95 per cent goal.

“I’m saying that The

Bahamas is at risk of reintroduction of polio and other diseases right now because the vaccination rates have gone way down below 95 per cent, and until we get them back up to 95 per cent, we are at risk,” she said.

“We’ve been doing this for a long time. We are all vaccine babies. All of us here have been vaccinated. We had our childhood vaccinations.

“I’m far from being a baby, I’m still here healthy, and I don’t have any of those diseases that the vaccines prevented me from getting, so they are very safe, and you really need to get your kids vaccinated. You do not want them to get polio, which there is no cure for, or measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, or pertussis. These are all serious diseases that can make your kids severely ill or even kill them. Do not be afraid.”

Acting Chief Medical

Officer Dr Philip Swan said the COVID-19 pandemic affected vaccine uptake in two ways: access to vaccines was reduced during lockdowns, and hesitancy spread among people amid debate about taking the COVID-19 vaccine.

“The risk is real,” he said. “As mentioned earlier, we have source markets where our tourists come from. In some of those areas, there have been pockets of these