BY INDY MAEALASIA
HEALTH Minister Paul Popora Bosawai has called on parents to ensure their children receive all scheduled vaccinations, stressing the importance of completing the full vaccination schedule from infancy through school years to protect children.
Speaking during the 2025 Immunisation Week celebration yesterday, Minister Bosawai made a heartfelt appeal for shared responsibility, calling on parents to take an active role in their children’s health and wellbeing.
“We need your support to ensure that no child is left behind. Every child must be fully protected by receiving all vaccines,” he said.
He highlighted that the immunisation schedule extends beyond the early months of a child’s life and must be followed through to ensure full protection.
“According to the immunisation schedule, let me also emphasise that the immunisation schedule, for a child does not stop at three or four months.
“We need to make sure that all children receive, two doses of measles vaccine, to ensure adequate protection,” he explained.
Drawing on his experience as a medical doctor, Bosawai acknowledged the challenges many mothers face, including being preoccupied with work such as market selling, which sometimes leads to missed follow-up vaccinations.
“I understand the hassles behind this,” he said. “But we cannot allow these pressures to prevent us from protecting our children.”
The Minister also called on fathers to step up, stressing that immunisation is not just a mother’s duty, but a shared responsibility for families and communities alike.