TABLE A — GUIDELINES FOR CONTRAINDICATIONS SCREENING

Diphtheria

Whooping Cough (pertussis)

Polio

acute febrile illness (fever)

acute febrile illness a history of seizures, convulsions or cerebral irritation in the

neonatal period any neurological defects any severe local or general reaction to a previous dose of

pertussis "Children whose parents or siblings have a history of

idiopathic epilepsy or neurological defects require careful assessment as to the advisability of imunization."

acute illness including diarrhoea, or other (OPV) acute intestinal dysfunction

sever hypogammaglobulinaemia anyone on corticosteroids or immunosuppressive therapy

Measles

acute febrile illness immune mechanism deficiencies anyone on corticosteroids or immunosuppressive therapy Hodgkin's disease and leukaemia, or other diseases of the

lymphoid, or mononuclear phagocytic (reticuloendothelial) system

Preliminary PHC and EPI research conducted for CIDA's Evaluation Division indicates as well that vaccines should not be administered to children who are suffering from malnutrition due to associated immunodeficiency problems (of which-- inter alia--chronic infections are symptomatic). However, the official WHO position on this point is that "Fever, respiratory tract infections, diarrhea, and malnutrition should not be considered as contraindications to immunization." This is based on the relationship between immunodeficiency status and increased risk of natural infection.16, 17, 18 (For a cross-sampling of other reference sources which support a counter-view to the WHO stance on immunodeficiency and contraindications to vaccines, please see ref.18)

The Project's failure to address this issue--in a responsible manner--has undoubtedly caused some very real harm, when only good was meant, as the following shows.