Ogun Flags Off Measles Vaccination, Targets 1 million Children
The Ogun State government says about 1 million children, between the ages of 9 months and 5 years are expected to be vaccinated during the 2024 measles campaign across the 20 local government areas of the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, who announced this in Abeokuta while briefing journalists about the Implementation of 2024 Integrated Measles Campaign in the state, said the week – long exercise would take place between Saturday, 19th and Friday, 25th October 2024.
Doctor Coker also disclosed that more than 5,000 health personnel would be deployed for the exercise and urged parents and caregivers to take advantage of the initiative by taking eligible children to designated centers across the 236 wards of the State.
The Commissioner emphasized that the immunization was safe, effective and free of charge, pointing out that it could be accessed at public Health Facilities, comprising the Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Health Institutions as well as Churches, Mosques, Markets, Schools and motor parks among other designated temporary and fixed posts.
She affirmed that the 2022 campaign executed in the state had brought about a significant drop in confirmed measles cases, from 118 in October 2022 to 15 recorded during the same period in 2024, restating that the vaccinations were essential to reduce the risk of developing blindness, brain damage, and a high fever that can cause seizures and deformity in children.
