The Lagos State Government has announced plans to introduce the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine across the state as part of efforts to protect children from preventable diseases.
This was disclosed on Tuesday during the Media Engagement on Measles-Rubella Vaccine Introduction, held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Conference Hall, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja.
Speaking at the event, the State Immunization Programme Coordinator, Dr. Adetola Akinpelu, said Nigeria, as a responsible nation, must prioritize healthcare by ensuring that children are vaccinated early. He emphasized that the Measles-Rubella vaccine is safe and effective and should be administered under the Routine Immunization schedule for children aged 0–23 months.
Dr. Akinpelu explained that the MR campaign targets children aged 9 months to 14 years, while the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine will be provided for girls aged 9 years. He added that measles and rubella are highly contagious viral infections and remain major public health concerns, particularly for children and pregnant women.
According to him, measles symptoms include cough, coryza (runny nose), and conjunctivitis (red eyes), while rubella usually presents with mild fever but can have severe consequences if contracted during pregnancy. He noted that rubella infection in pregnant women could result in Congenital Rubella Syndrome, leading to babies being born deaf, blind, mute, or with cognitive impairments.
“The MR vaccine is a combination vaccine used to prevent measles and rubella. It is not given to pregnant women, but women are advised to receive it before pregnancy to prevent rubella,” he said.
The UNICEF Representative, Mr. Seyi Nubi, said the campaign’s objectives include building trust and confidence, promoting accurate information, and supporting community mobilization efforts to ensure widespread acceptance of the vaccine.
Also speaking, the Director of Health Education, Mrs. Grace, announced that the measles-rubella vaccination campaign would run from January 20 to January 29, assuring that extensive sensitization would be carried out to reach all Lagos residents.
The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Akinwumi Mustapha, stressed that stakeholder engagement was critical to the success of the campaign. He explained that beyond procuring vaccines and deploying health workers, community support was essential.
“We need people who will encourage fathers, mothers, and caregivers to bring out their children for vaccination. That is why we are engaging stakeholders—to explain what the Measles-Rubella vaccine is about and ensure that children across religious and social lines receive it,” he said.
Dr. Mustapha also urged parents to present children aged 9 months to 14 years for vaccination from January 20. He added that other routine vaccines, including polio, diphtheria, and HPV vaccines that prevent cervical cancer, would also be intensified during the campaign. He emphasized that all vaccines are free, approved, and effective.
Traditional rulers pledged their support for the exercise. The Adeboruwa of Logbo Kingdom, Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, said traditional institutions would mobilize communities, ensure cooperation with health workers, and provide access to homes during the vaccination exercise.
Religious leaders also threw their weight behind the initiative. Dr. Waziri Adisa Nasiri, Professor of Sociology at the University of Lagos, representing the Chief Imam of Lagos State, His Eminence Sheikh Sulaimon, conveyed the Muslim community’s full support for the campaign and called on Islamic groups and associations to cooperate with health officials.
Similarly, Rev. Dr. Dickson Dele Asaju, Assistant Secretary of the Lagos State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), representing CAN Chairman Bishop Prof. S.T.V. Adegbite, said churches across denominations had been directed to mobilize members in support of the vaccination exercise.
He emphasized that health should not be politicized or trivialized, noting that protecting children from measles and rubella was a collective responsibility.
The Lagos State Government reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding children’s health and urged residents to participate actively in the upcoming vaccination campaign to prevent measles and rubella across the state.
