Free Vaccine Rollout Aims to Stop Deadly Pneumonia

The Ministry of Health and Wellness has rolled out the PCV-13 vaccine free of charge at public health facilities across the country, aiming to protect Belize’s children and elderly from deadly infections like pneumonia, meningitis, and sinus disease.

Health officials say the move is urgent. Studies show that up to 40 per cent of healthy children and 10 per cent of healthy adults carry the bacteria responsible for these illnesses.

Dr Liliane Middleton from the Ministry of Health and Wellness emphasised the vaccine’s long-term benefits. “Presently, we are giving one dose of the vaccine, and it’s a lifelong protection with the PCV-13,” she said. “We need to protect our family, ourselves, our community, and the best protection is by getting the vaccine.”

According to the World Health Organisation, pneumococcal disease kills around 300,000 children under five every year, with the vast majority of deaths occurring in developing countries.

To reduce these risks in Belize, the Ministry is making the vaccine widely accessible. Families can visit their nearest health centre or mobile clinic to receive the vaccine at no cost.

“The vaccine is available at all public health centres, and it is available on mobile clinics. So persons who are interested in taking the vaccine, they can go at the health center, and they can just request the vaccine. And it will be administered to them free of cost,” Dr Middleton added.