Vaccination crisis looms as Gauteng sees sharp drop in child jabs

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The Gauteng Department of Health has urged parents to prioritize their children’s vaccinations due to a troubling decline in immunisation coverage rates in the region.

The department is advocating for heightened awareness and proactive measures to enhance childhood vaccination uptake, reinforcing the need for community involvement in protecting public health.

During African Vaccination Week, from April 24 to 30, the Gauteng department of health emphasizes its dedication to enhancing vaccine uptake and safeguarding children from preventable diseases.

The department emphasised that parents and carers play a central role in protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases by ensuring they are vaccinated according to the national immunisation schedule.

Parents and carers are encouraged to ensure their children’s health by following the national immunisation schedule, said Tshifhiwa Mashamba, program manager for maternal, child health, and nutrition.

“This year’s African Vaccination Week campaign comes at a critical time, as the province has recorded a decline in childhood immunisation coverage in the 2025/26 financial year.

“A total of 191 705 children under the age of one were vaccinated, representing 75.3% coverage, compared with 213 389 children (83%) in the 2024/25 financial year.

Scheduled vaccinations

“This decline is concerning, as it increases children’s vulnerability to the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases, which can lead to severe illness, long-term complications and even death.

“It is important for parents to ensure that children receive all scheduled vaccinations on time and
complete their immunisation programme,” Mashamba expressed.

Mashamba noted that the decrease in vaccine uptake is partially due to caregivers not bringing children for routine immunizations and not signing consent forms for school-based vaccination programs.

He continued, “To address this challenge, the department is intensifying community-based awareness campaigns across all districts, emphasising the importance of timely and complete childhood immunisation.

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“Health workers will also strengthen outreach services at Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres, targeting zero-dose children, underserved communities, and areas with low immunisation coverage.

“These interventions are designed to support parents and carers in accessing immunisation services and to ensure that no child is left behind.”