The Ekiti State Government has announced plans to introduce the Measles-Rubella vaccine into its immunization program this month. According to the State Immunization Officer, Mrs Omolabake Ogundola, the vaccine will be administered to children aged nine months to 14 years in a bid to protect them against measles and rubella, which are described as deadly and contagious diseases.
The introduction of the MR vaccine is part of a statewide vaccination campaign, which will take place over 10 days and target 17% of the state’s population. The campaign aims to achieve a coverage rate of between 90% and 95% of the target population. After the campaign, the vaccine will become part of the routine immunization schedule for children at nine months and 15 months as first and second doses, respectively, replacing the existing standalone measles vaccine.
The state government has outlined its implementation strategies, which include keeping all health facilities offering routine immunization open throughout the campaign period. Mobile teams will also be deployed to communities to set up temporary vaccination posts, and targeted outreach will be carried out in rural areas, factory settlements, farm camps, and security-compromised locations. The media has been identified as a key partner in the public health campaign, with a media orientation and sensitization meeting organized to equip journalists with accurate information on the MR vaccine.
The campaign has been described as a critical intervention aimed at closing immunity gaps against measles and rubella infections. Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that can lead to severe complications, including malnutrition, blindness, encephalitis, and death, particularly among children under the age of five. Rubella, on the other hand, poses serious risks to pregnant women, often resulting in congenital rubella syndrome, which can cause hearing loss, heart defects, and visual impairment in infants.
Parents and caregivers are being urged to take advantage of the campaign window, as children above the eligible age will no longer have access to the vaccine once it is fully integrated into routine immunization. Stakeholders, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, school authorities, parent-teacher associations, and educationists, have been engaged and have endorsed the vaccination exercise. The successful implementation of the campaign will be assessed using administrative coverage data and post-campaign surveys.
