In a renewed push to curb childhood deaths and prevent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, the Ekiti State Government has announced plans to roll out the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine this month, targeting thousands of children across the state.
The vaccine will be introduced into the state’s immunisation schedule in the third week of January, following a 10-day statewide vaccination campaign aimed at closing existing immunity gaps among children aged nine months to 14 years.
Speaking during a media orientation and sensitisation meeting in Ado Ekiti on Friday, the State Immunisation Officer, Mrs Omolabake Ogundola, described measles and rubella as “deadly and highly contagious diseases” that continue to pose serious public health threats.
“The introduction of the MR vaccine into our routine immunisation programme is to protect our children and prevent avoidable deaths,” Ogundola said. “Before full integration, we will conduct a 10-day campaign to ensure that children who may have missed previous vaccinations are adequately covered.”
According to her, the campaign is expected to reach about 17 per cent of Ekiti State’s total population, noting that attaining between 90 and 95 per cent coverage would be considered a successful outcome.
“After the campaign, the MR vaccine will replace the standalone measles vaccine and will be administered routinely at nine months and 15 months as first and second doses respectively,” she added.
Ogundola explained that all health facilities providing routine immunisation services would remain open throughout the campaign period, while mobile vaccination teams would be deployed to hard-to-reach communities.
“We will set up temporary vaccination posts and conduct targeted outreach in rural areas, factory settlements, farm camps and security-challenged locations, working with security agencies where necessary,” she said.
Also speaking, the Director of Disease Control and Immunisation, Dr Segun Adeoye, described immunisation as “one of the most effective public health interventions globally,” stressing its role in reducing illness and death among children and mothers.
He said the media orientation was organised to strengthen public understanding and confidence in the vaccine. “The media remains an indispensable partner in public health campaigns. Its credibility helps to build trust at the community level,” Adeoye said.
“The essence of this engagement is to equip journalists with accurate information on the safety, effectiveness, target population and strategies of the MR vaccination campaign, so that messaging to the public is consistent and responsible,” he added.
The State Technical Assistant with the World Health Organisation, Dr Ebube Eronini, described the vaccination drive as “a critical intervention aimed at closing immunity gaps against highly contagious measles and rubella infections.”
She noted that the campaign would cover all communities and settlements across Ekiti State. “No eligible child will be left behind,” Eronini said.
Highlighting the dangers of the diseases, she explained that measles could lead to severe complications such as malnutrition, blindness, encephalitis and death, particularly among children under five, while rubella poses grave risks to pregnant women.
“Rubella infection during pregnancy can result in congenital rubella syndrome, leading to hearing loss, heart defects and visual impairment in infants,” she said.
On her part, the State Technical Assistant for the International Vaccine Access Centre, Mrs Folakemi Aladenika, urged parents and caregivers to seize the opportunity presented by the campaign.
“Children who are above the eligible age may no longer have access to the vaccine once it is fully integrated into routine immunisation,” she warned.
Similarly, the State Health Educator, Dr Olajumoke Oguntoye, disclosed that key stakeholders, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, school authorities, parent-teacher associations and educationists, had been engaged and had endorsed the vaccination exercise.
She expressed confidence that the broad-based support would enhance community acceptance and participation in the campaign.