…Ondo Aims At 924,119 Children
Sam Philip
United Nations International Children Emergency Fund(UNICEF) has called on parents, guardians and other caregivers to ensure their children and wards are vaccinated during the upcoming Measles vaccination programme.
They were assured that the vaccine would protect them against all forms of virus and bacteria diseases that children are always exposed to.
The supplemental immunization programme would commence on Saturday, October 5, 2024 and end on Friday, October 11, 2024.
The Measles vaccination is for children within ages of 9 months to 59 months.
Measles has been described by medical experts as a dangerous disease that could lead to blindness or death.
During supplemental immunization programme, girls from age 9 years to 14 years would also be vaccinated with Human Papilloma Vaccine(HPV).
Explaining the advantages of the vaccine at a one-day seminar on Media Orientation on HPV/Non Polio Supplemental Immunization Integrated Activities in Oyo town, Oyo State, organised by United Nations International Children Emergency Fund UNICEF Aderonke Akinola-Akinwole, a Social and Behaviour Change Specialist with UNICEF, said the measles vaccine is safe and highly effective in protecting the children.
Akinola-Akinwole said: “We should all beware of measles, it is a highly contagious disease that can be deadly.
“I want to assure you that the measles vaccine is safe and highly effective in protecting our children.”
In Ondo State, the international agency gave the state a target of 924,119 children to be vaccinated during the programme.
The Director of Disease Control and Immunization in Ondo State, Dr. Adefesoye Victor stated on Sunday that they are done with the training of state officers who would train the local government officers.
According to him, “The local government training would start on Wednesday, though ordinarily, it supposed to start on Monday, but to the public holiday on Tuesday.
Once it starts on Wednesday to Thursday, after that, it’s implementation
“The targeted age group is from 9 months to 59 months, boys and girls. In addition to other routine immunization.
“We are also mandated to give Human Papilloma Vaccine(HPV) to eligible children. That’s our girls between age 9 years to 14 years.”