Olifantshoek Family Care Clinic

16/06/2026

04/06/2026

📢 IMPORTANT NOTICE – DATE CHANGE 📢
Due to unforeseen circumstances, our Measles Vaccination Day has been rescheduled.
❌ Previous Date: 5 June 2026
✅ New Date: Monday, 8 June 2026

26/05/2026

GMM - Health Alert!

For years, measles had become so uncommon in South Africa that many younger parents had never encountered a case firsthand. Thanks to widespread childhood vaccination, infections fell dramatically and the disease largely faded from public attention.

But recent figures tell a different story.

By 26 April 2026, South Africa had already recorded 1,352 laboratory-confirmed measles cases for the year. During the same period in 2025, there were just 182 confirmed cases - highlighting the speed at which the disease is spreading once again.

The warning comes as The Bulletin is aware of at least a couple of local babies who have contracted measles in recent weeks.

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. It spreads through coughing and sneezing and can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a room. Symptoms often begin with fever, a runny nose, cough and red eyes before the characteristic rash appears.

While many children recover, measles can cause serious complications including pneumonia, seizures, brain inflammation and, in severe cases, death - particularly among babies and young children.

The resurgence is not unique to South Africa. The United States and several European countries have also reported significant outbreaks this year, prompting renewed concern among health authorities worldwide.

Health experts continue to stress that vaccination remains the most effective protection against the virus.

26/05/2026

with SidebySide More children are missing their vaccines, which puts them at risk of getting sick from diseases like measles and rubella.

Signs of measles:
🔴 High fever
🔴 Rash
🔴 Runny nose
🔴 Red eyes
🔴 Sore throat

🔍 Watch for a red rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.

💉 Vaccines can protect your child—make sure they are up to date.

👩🏾‍⚕️ If you think your child has measles, take them to a clinic or doctor for a test.

🫱🏻‍🫲🏾 Let’s work together to keep every child in South Africa safe and healthy through vaccination.

26/05/2026

‼️please read and share

“Vaccines don’t just protect one child — they protect the whole community.” ❤️

Adults can still get measles even if they were vaccinated, but it’s much less common and usually happens for a few reasons:

1. No vaccine is 100% effective
The measles vaccine is very effective, but not perfect.

1 dose protects about 93% of people
2 doses protect about 97% of people
That means a small number of vaccinated people can still get infected, especially if they are exposed during an outbreak. Measles

2. Some adults only got one dose
Many older adults received only one measles vaccine when they were children, depending on the country and year they were born. One dose gives good protection, but two doses are stronger and longer-lasting.

3. Vaccine records or immunity uncertainty
Some adults think they were vaccinated but:
never actually completed the vaccine schedule,
had incomplete childhood records,
or received vaccines during periods when storage or delivery problems affected effectiveness (rare, but possible).

4. Weakened immune system
In some people, immunity may not work as strongly due to medical conditions or treatments that suppress the immune system.

5. High exposure during outbreaks
If measles spreads in a community with low vaccination rates, even vaccinated people can occasionally get infected because the virus is extremely contagious. However, vaccinated people often get a milder illness and are less likely to develop severe complications.

What illness was almost wiped out?

Smallpox is the major disease that was completely eradicated worldwide through vaccination — no natural cases since 1980.
Measles, however, was not eradicated. In many places it became very rare because of vaccination, but outbreaks can return when community vaccination drops (this is related to “herd immunity,” where enough people are protected to slow spread)

26/05/2026

About Worms! 🪱

21/05/2026

💉 IMPORTANT IMMUNIZATION REMINDER 💉
Protect your little one with their important 6 & 12 month immunizations. Vaccines help protect children against serious and preventable diseases.🩵

21/05/2026

Remember to book your appointment in advance 🍂