Edo Targets 2.2 Million Children in Measles–Rubella Vaccination Drive
The Edo State Government has announced plans to vaccinate about 2.2 million children aged between zero and 14 years against measles and rubella as part of a statewide immunisation campaign scheduled for January 20 to 30, 2026.
The exercise, to be carried out in partnership with development organisations, will take place simultaneously across all 18 local government areas of the state at designated health facilities and temporary vaccination posts.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting in Benin City, the Director of Disease Control and Immunisation at the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Eseigbe Efeomon, said the campaign is aimed at significantly reducing the incidence of measles and rubella in Nigeria.
According to him, the national target is to bring measles and rubella cases down to 10 per million people by 2026 and further reduce it to one case per million by 2030 through sustained and effective vaccination.
Dr Efeomon explained that only qualified and nationally approved health workers would administer the injectable vaccines, with additional state-supported teams complementing nationally approved personnel. He added that the campaign would utilise fixed and temporary vaccination posts, while teams would also visit schools, religious centres, markets, motor parks, internally displaced persons’ camps and other public places.
He said vaccination cards would be issued to all children as proof of immunisation, while finger-marking would be used to prevent double vaccination.
Also speaking at the meeting, the World Health Organization (WHO) Local Government Facilitator, Mr Ajaero Paul, described measles and rubella as major global causes of child mortality and congenital abnormalities, stressing that both diseases are preventable through the measles–rubella vaccine.
Paul emphasised the importance of sustained advocacy and community engagement in reducing child deaths and lifelong disabilities associated with the diseases.
On his part, the UNICEF Social and Behavioural Change Health Officer, Yakubu Suleiman, reassured parents and caregivers that the measles–rubella vaccine is safe for children aged nine months to 14 years. He noted that the Edo State Government has fully funded the vaccines, making them available free of charge at all government health facilities.
Suleiman urged schools, religious bodies and other stakeholders to support the campaign, adding that even children who have previously received the measles vaccine should still be given the combined measles–rubella vaccine to ensure comprehensive protection and leave no child behind.
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