Vaccination campaign targets 7.8 million kids in Kano against Measles and Rubella

The Kano state government, supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has launched a vaccination campaign targeting 7.8 million children against measles and rubella. Running from 6 to 17 October 2025, the effort aims to immunise children aged 9 months to 14 years. According to Mr. Rahama Rihood Farah, Chief of the UNICEF Field Office in Kano, the campaign will use a fixed‑post, temporary‑post, and sweep‑team strategy, with each team comprising 11 members, including two dedicated to polio vaccination.

To ensure a robust cold‑chain and vaccine‑management system, three Vaccine Storage Locations (VSLs) have been prepared, and a total of 44 Local Government Area (LGA) Vaccines Accountability Officers and 684 Ward Vaccines Accountability Officers have been trained and deployed. The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, with UNICEF’s support, has supplied publicity materials—banners, posters, and key messages for caregivers and health workers. In addition, 3,300 health workers will receive training in improved interpersonal communication skills, while 870 members of Non‑Compliance Resolution Teams (NCRTs) will be trained to address vaccine‑refusal cases.

The campaign forms part of Nigeria’s broader effort to eradicate polio. Kano State has reported three cases of a polio‑virus variant (cVPV2) in 2025, prompting UNICEF to urge the state government to release counterpart funds to LGAs promptly and to intensify supervision for quality implementation. The October Integrated Polio Vaccination Campaign represents the first phase of a two‑phase initiative to be carried out in 21 states, including Kano. This year the state has already conducted two In‑between Round Activities (IBRA), achieving 82 % and 98 % coverage respectively.

The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency has allocated 3,347 teams and provided 4.6 million doses of Novel Oral Polio Vaccine (nOPV2) and 4.5 million doses of bOPV, targeting 3.9 million children under five in the state. Achieving the campaign’s goals is critical to halting polio circulation in Kano by the end of the year. With only two months remaining, the Kano State Government, its partners, and the media must collaborate to raise awareness and ensure the campaign’s success.