Lagos Commences Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign for Children

Funmi Ogundare

The Lagos State Government, in collaboration with the State Primary Health Care Board, yesterday, announced plans to implement the Measles–Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign as part of efforts to strengthen the healthcare system and reduce the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases.

The campaign targeting children aged between nine and 14 years, is scheduled to run from January 20 to 31 across schools, religious centres, primary healthcare facilities and markets statewide.

Speaking at a one-day media orientation on the introduction of the MR vaccine into the Routine Immunisation (RI) schedule in Lagos, the State Immunisation Programme Coordinator, Dr. Matthew Akinpelu, explained that the campaign aims to significantly reduce infection rates, enhance public health protection and close immunity gaps among children who have never received the rubella vaccine.

According to him, the initiative also marks a crucial step towards reducing the incidence of Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) in Nigeria.

Dr. Akinpelu explained that measles and rubella are highly contagious viral infections that remain major public health concerns, particularly for children and pregnant women.

“Measles presents with fever and rash, while rubella is caused by the rubella virus. Each year, an estimated 10,000 children are born with Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS)in Nigeria, representing about 31 per cent of the global CRS burden. The earlier we begin widespread vaccination, the better it will be for the country,” he said.

He added the campaign is designed to vaccinate as many eligible children as possible, with a target of 10.5 million children across the state.

Also speaking, a UNICEF representative, Mr. Seyi Nubi, noted the vaccination campaign seeks to increase public awareness, promote accurate information, build trust and confidence in vaccines, address rumours and misinformation, and encourage health-seeking behaviour.

“There is a need to strengthen public confidence in the safety, effectiveness and quality of the MR vaccine through credible media messaging and expert voices, while correcting myths and negative narratives about the vaccine in both traditional and social media spaces,” Nubi said.

Earlier in her remarks, the Director of Health Education and Promotion Services in Lagos, Mrs. Grace Adesola Honfor, said the campaign was designed in the best interest of children and the general public.

“We want people to understand why this campaign is necessary and why children are being vaccinated. Government is committed to ensuring that citizens live healthy lives,” she said, expressing confidence that the media would help mobilise communities for full participation.

On his part, the Assistant Health Education Officer of the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Mr. Ayoade Shoboyejo, described measles and rubella as preventable childhood diseases that cause significant hardship, disability and loss of lives due to frequent outbreaks.

“Vaccination remains a proven solution to reducing deaths, disabilities and suffering caused by these diseases. MR immunisation has the potential to avert 2.8 million deaths in Nigeria and strengthen the country’s immunisation programme. Collaboration between the health sector and communities is key to improving vaccine acceptance and public health outcomes,” he said.