The Wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi has charged all parents to always visit the health facilities in the state for Immunization when their children are beyond 9 months of age for Measles containing vaccines 2 which is administered at 15months and up to 8 more months after the child received the first dose in order to enjoy additional health benefits that MCV2 would offer the child.
She gave the charge during the Flag-off ceremony of the introduction of Measles containing Vaccines 2 into routine immunization in Ekiti State at Comprehensive Health Centre Okesa, Ado-Ekiti.
Erelu Fayemi pledged the commitment of the present administration to protecting Ekiti children from the plight of Measles and other preventable diseases by ensuring the availability and acceptability of vaccination of children under five years old as she described them as one of the vulnerable groups in the society.
“It was noted that about 70% of Measles Cases affect mostly children less than five years old. This is as a result of low levels of routine immunization coverage, which leads to the buildup of a high proportion of susceptible population and untimely outbreak,” the first lady noted.
Earlier in her welcome addressed, the Chairman of the Primary Health Card Development Agency, Chief (Mrs.) Monisola Oloro said that the introduction of Measles containing vaccines 2 will give children under 23 months a herd immunity of 95% which will better the lives of the young children in Ekiti State.
Mrs. Oloro noted that there would be intensive routine immunization exercise of MCV 2 in all the 16 Local Government’ Areas of Ekiti State from 14th to 18th of November 2019.
A board member of the agency, Dr. Tunde Olujobi urged parents to ensure that their children within this age are immunized while charging all caregivers to ensure that they are available at all health facilities to get all children of target age group of 15 months to 33months vaccinated with MCV2.
There were good will messages from the development partners like World Health Organization UNICEF and NPHCDA as they disclosed that Measles is a highly contagious viral disease and remains an important cause of death among young children globally, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine.
They all noted that the introduction of Measles containing vaccination was occasioned by the fact that not all the children vaccinated with the first dose of Measles vaccines would be protected hence the need for a second dose that will help increase coverage to over 90% needed to achieve meaningful herd immunity.
Packaged by Emmanuel Adeniran
