Edo To Vaccinate 2.2 Million Children Against Measles, Rubella

By Idahosa Musa

Edo State Government, in partnership with key development agencies, has announced plans to vaccinate no fewer than 2.2 million children aged between zero and 14 years against measles and rubella in a statewide immunization campaign.

The exercise, scheduled to run simultaneously across the 18 local government areas of the state, will take place from January 20 to January 30, 2026, at designated primary health facilities and approved temporary vaccination posts.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ sensitization meeting in Benin, the Director of Disease Control and Immunization at the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Eseigbe Efeomon, said the campaign is part of efforts to significantly reduce the incidence of measles and rubella in Nigeria.

According to him, the initiative is aligned with national and global health targets aimed at reducing measles and rubella cases to 10 per million population by 2026 and further down to one case per million by 2030 through improved population immunity.

Dr Efeomon explained that the campaign would involve nationally approved vaccination teams working alongside additional teams supported by the state and local governments to ensure effective coverage of all communities.

He stressed that only trained and certified health workers would be engaged as vaccinators, noting that the vaccines are injectable and require professional handling.

He added that the vaccination strategy would combine fixed posts and temporary fixed posts, with teams also visiting schools, churches, mosques, markets, motor parks, internally displaced persons’ camps, and other public places to reach eligible children.

“To ensure proper documentation and accountability, vaccination cards will be issued to all vaccinated children, which parents and caregivers are advised to keep for future reference,” he said, adding that finger-marking would be used to prevent double vaccination.

Dr Efeomon reiterated that the overarching goal of the campaign is to drastically reduce rubella incidence nationwide and protect children from preventable diseases through effective and sustained immunization coverage.

Also speaking, the World Health Organization Local Government Facilitator, Mr Ajaero Paul, described measles and rubella as major contributors to child mortality and congenital abnormalities globally.

He noted that both diseases are preventable through the measles-rubella vaccine, which he said is safe and effective.

Paul emphasized the need for continuous advocacy and community engagement to reduce deaths and lifelong disabilities associated with vaccine-preventable diseases.

On his part, UNICEF Social and Behavioural Change Health Officer, Yakubu Suleiman, assured parents and caregivers that the measles-rubella vaccine is safe and effective for all children aged nine months to 14 years.

He disclosed that the Edo State Government has fully paid for the vaccines, making them available free of charge to all eligible children at government-owned health facilities across the state.

Suleiman added that vaccination not only protects individual children but also strengthens community immunity against deadly diseases, urging schools, religious institutions, and other critical stakeholders to support the campaign to ensure that no child is left behind.