The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced plans to vaccinate at least 1,372,251 children aged between nine months and 14 years against measles and rubella in Nasarawa State.
Dr. Luqman Ahmed, the head of UNICEF’s Kaduna Field Office, shared this information during a Media Dialogue, Orientation, and Mobilisation event for the Integrated Measles-Rubella Polio Vaccination Campaign held in Lafia, the capital city of Nasarawa State.
He further revealed that the campaign, set to begin on October 6, will also target 1,560,000 children under five years old for the novel oral polio vaccine (nOPV2).
Highlighting the ongoing challenges, Dr. Ahmed emphasized that measles remains a serious health risk for children despite ongoing control efforts. He pointed out that Nigeria continues to have one of the largest populations of zero-dose children globally-those who have not received any routine vaccinations.
Additionally, he noted that rubella poses a significant threat to unborn babies, especially in light of the alarming spread of variant poliovirus strains within the country.
In response to these concerns, UNICEF and its partners are mobilizing to reach 102 million children nationwide through this integrated immunization initiative.
“This unprecedented effort is made possible through the committed leadership of our National and State Governments, alongside strong collaboration with UNICEF, WHO, Gavi, and other partners,” Dr. Ahmed stated.
He reassured that the measles-rubella (MR) vaccine is safe, fully funded by the government, and accessible to all eligible children aged 9 months to 14 years at no cost.
“To eliminate the transmission of the poliovirus by 2025, it is crucial that 95% of children under five receive the oral polio vaccine during every immunization round. The oral polio vaccine has already reduced polio-related paralysis worldwide by 99.9%. Collective commitment is essential to achieve complete eradication,” he added.
Dr. Ahmed called on the media to play a vital role in encouraging parents, caregivers, and communities to view immunization days not as routine events but as critical opportunities to protect children from polio, measles, rubella, HPV, and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
Mr. Ishaya Amegwa, the State Health Educator, expressed gratitude to Governor Abdullahi Sule for his proactive support of the campaign and encouraged other governors to follow suit.
“Governor Sule was the first to publicly endorse the MR vaccine, which has helped us engage key stakeholders such as legislators, traditional and religious leaders, school PTAs, and community organizations. The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” he remarked.
The vaccination drive is scheduled to run from October 6 to 15, with mop-up activities planned for October 16 and 17.
“We urge all parents and caregivers to ensure their children receive the vaccine. The MR vaccine has been globally available since 1979, proven safe and effective, and is provided free of charge,” Mr. Amegwa concluded.
