UNICEF Targets 5 Million Children for Measles Vaccination in South West and Edo States

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has launched an ambitious campaign to vaccinate at least five million children against measles and other deadly diseases in the South West and Edo states. This effort is part of the 2024 Integrated Supplemental Immunisation Activities, scheduled to begin on October 5.

According to UNICEF Social Behavioural Change Expert, Aderonke Akinola-Adewole, the vaccination drive aims to eradicate diseases like polio, measles, yellow fever, and HPV. Akinola-Adewole emphasized that vaccines have proven effective in eliminating public health diseases, such as smallpox, and urged parents to present their children for vaccination, saying, “Vaccines are safe, effective and free”.

The campaign will run for a week, with a two-day mop-up exercise to ensure no child is left unvaccinated. All facilities across the states will remain open to provide required vaccines to children. Akinola-Adewole stressed that vaccination is a life-saver and a right of every child, stating, “When you take your child to be vaccinated, you are fulfilling the right of the child to survive”.

The measles vaccination targets children from nine months to 59 months, while routine immunization is available for children from 0-23 months. This integrated approach aims to strengthen routine immunization and give every child the chance to be healthy and thrive.

To achieve success, UNICEF is calling on the media to support awareness-building, vaccine trust, and acceptance. Akinola-Adewole noted, “The media have a very wide reach… to convince people about vaccine safety and the importance of getting their children vaccinated”.

Health officials from participating states have outlined efforts to ensure the campaign’s success, including community engagement, street publicity, and media engagements.

The World Health Organization emphasizes the importance of vaccination, citing that measles vaccination has averted 57 million deaths between 2000 and 2022. With UNICEF’s campaign, millions of children will be protected from deadly diseases, bringing Nigeria closer to achieving regional measles elimination targets.