Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy said the vaccination programmes in border regions need to be strengthened since these areas are more vulnerable; overall, he said, greater investment should be made in vaccination research worldwide.

The minister made these disclosures at the launch of Vaccination Week of the Americas 2008 at Lethem, Region Nine, on Monday, a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release said. Ramsammy told the gathering, which also saw attendance from Brazil and Venezuela representatives, that there are still many children to be vaccinated in the Americas and public health workers must continue until every child is inoculated. “Access, availability and coverage for vaccines in our immunisation programmes must not be one of the factors that contribute to the gap between rich and poor countries, between the north and the south. Vaccines must be seen as a global good,” Ramsammy said. …..