Stakeholders in the health sector have been urged to intensify and extend the measles and rubella vaccination campaign to grassroots communities.
The Head of Mission for the Advocacy Project at the Centre for Well-Being and Integrated Nutrition Solutions, Dr. Mahmud Zubairu, in a statement on Tuesday, said low vaccination coverage could lead to increased deaths and disabilities, particularly among children.
The centre recalled that in May 2024, a measles outbreak killed 24 people in Adamawa State.
Quoting media reports, the centre stressed that the measles outbreak affected two local government areas where nearly 200 suspected cases were identified.
It stated, “Measles cases have been reported nationwide, with many confirmed cases in Borno State, which has been battling insurgency for more than 10 years. There have been two large measles outbreaks in the North-West and North-East zones between 2012 and 2021.
“Measles is a highly contagious viral disease and it has been listed as an important cause of death amongst young children globally. It is usually associated with cough, fever and other symptoms but a characteristic rash stands it out.”
Zubairu emphasised that if not properly managed, measles and rubella could lead to serious complications that may lead to death and disabilities.
“Similarly, Rubella is a highly contagious viral disease that spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is also associated with mild fever and rash in infected children. If a woman is infected with the rubella virus during early pregnancy, there is a 90% chance of passing the virus to the unborn child and this can result in miscarriage, fetal death, stillbirth or giving birth to a child with congenital malformations, known as congenital rubella syndrome.
“Like measles, vaccination is the most effective way to prevent rubella and its spread. The rubella vaccine is safe and helps the body build immunity against the virus. While the measles vaccine has been part of the country’s immunisation schedule since the launch of the Expanded Program on Immunisation—now the Essential Programme on Immunisation—in 1979, the rubella vaccine has not been included in public health facilities’ routine immunization schedule,” the centre added.
Emphasising the need for widespread immunisation, the Centre stated, “For vaccines to effectively prevent diseases, communities must achieve herd immunity. This ensures that even unvaccinated children are protected when a disease is introduced, thanks to the immunity of vaccinated individuals. However, this level of protection can only be achieved with very high vaccination coverage.”
“By prioritising awareness, emphasising vaccine safety and effectiveness, and using communication tools that reach the grassroots, Nigeria can achieve the 95% vaccination coverage needed to eliminate measles and rubella,” the Centre concluded.
