No fewer than 2.2 million children between the ages of 9 months and 14 years are to be immunised against Measles-Rubella in Edo State in the ongoing Nigeria Integrated Mass Vaccination Campaign in the country.
DAILY POST reports that the Director of Disease Control and Immunisation of the Edo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ESPHCDA), Dr Eseigbe Efeomon disclosed this at a parley organised to sensitise journalists on the immunisation in Benin City.
Efeomon said a total of 102, 539,762 million children are targeted to be vaccinated across the country in a campaign that has already started between 4 and 27 October in 2025 in the Northern states and scheduled to commence in the Southern states 20 January and ended on 13 February, 2026.
He said the vaccine is safe and would be given free to the targeted population as they are already paid for by the Edo State Government.
‘The Measles-Rubella vaccine is safe and effective for all children aged 9 months to 14 years.
‘The government has paid for this and all other vaccines and are therefore available to all eligible children in all Government Health Facilities at no cost.
‘Vaccination protects children and the community from deadly vaccine-preventable diseases like Measles and Rubella.
‘Even if a child has received the measles vaccine before, they should still get the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine. Schools are critical partners in ensuring no child is left behind’, he said.
While noting that 2.2 million dose of vaccines were provided for the state for the exercise, he said the project was geared towards Edo Sate achieving over 95 per cent coverage and reduced child mortality rate.
He said over 1000 qualified team personnel have been recruited and would be distributed to various communities for the successful implementation of the programme.
He, however, disclosed that between 6 and 10 cases of Rubella were confirmed the State in 2025.
Efeomon added that each year, an estimated 10,000 children are born with Congenital Rubella Syndrome, CRS, in Nigeria representing 1/3 of the global burden
He opined that Rubella Vaccine introduction will help eliminate CRS while simplifying measles surveillance
‘Nigeria fulfills the criteria for introducing RCV by achieving over 80% coverage through Preventive Measles Vaccination Campaign in 2022/23.
‘Measles remains a leading cause of death in children under 5 in Nigeria. The current approach to reaching children with Measles Containing Vaccine first dose (MCVI) relies on campaigns to supplement the routine sector, to support Nigeria’s weak Routine immunization (RI) systems
‘Measles-Rubella immunization has the potential to avert 2.8 million deaths in Nigeria and contribute to a global shift in immunisation coverage.
‘It will also and the attainment of the Immunization Post SDG Target (PST)’s 2030 goal of 16.2 million death averted.
‘Rubella is often masked by Measles but has debilitating consequences on mother and child. It causes congenital blindness, deafness, holes in the heart, and neural maldevelopment’, he added.
On his part, the State Coordinator of National Primary Healthcare Department Agency, Mr Osawe Lawani, described Measles and Rubella as deadly viral infections, but could be stopped by vaccination.
He added that children of between 9 months and 14 years will benefit from the 2-in-1 vaccination, even as he added that vaccinated children would be issued vaccination cards.
Lawani, who urged parents to make their children available for immunisation, assured that every nook and cranny of the State, including schools and worship centers, would be reached for the exercise
On his part, UNICEF’s consultant on Social and Behavioral Change, Mr. Yakubu Suleiman, urged media practitioners to key into the campaign for the prevention and elimination of Measles and Rubella in Nigeria.
He said the parley with the media was to spread the vaccination to grassroot and help dispel all negative and false narratives about Immunisation by publishing accurate and positive reports on Immunisation.
