The Lagos State Government has announced plans to begin a statewide measles-rubella vaccination campaign on 20 January, targeting about 10.5 million children aged between nine months and 14 years.

The exercise will run for 10 days, with an additional two days set aside for mop-up, as part of efforts to reduce the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases in the state.

Measles, a highly contagious viral disease, remains a major cause of death among young children globally. It infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose and a rash all over the body.

Being vaccinated is the best way to prevent getting sick with measles or spreading it to other people, as it helps the body fight off the virus.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) describes rubella as a contagious viral infection transmitted by airborne droplets that occurs most often in children and young adults. It is the leading vaccine-preventable cause of birth defects, accounting for an estimated 100,000 infants born with congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) each year worldwide.

Rubella in pregnancy, especially during the first trimester, can result in miscarriage, fetal death, stillbirth, or infants with congenital malformations, known as CRS.

Targeting 95 per cent coverage

During a media orientation on the measles–rubella vaccine on Tuesday, the Immunisation Programme Coordinator of the board, Adetola Akinpelu, said the goal of the campaign is to achieve at least 95 per cent coverage of eligible children within the 12-day period.

He described misinformation as one of the biggest threats to immunisation efforts, despite the proven benefits of vaccines, and appealed to the media to educate residents.

Mr Akinpelu said about 90 per cent of people exposed to someone infected with measles or rubella are likely to contract the disease if they are not vaccinated.

While the infections are often mild in children, he warned that rubella can have severe consequences during pregnancy, leading to congenital rubella syndrome, which can cause lifelong disabilities such as heart disease.

According to him, an estimated 10,000 children are born with congenital rubella syndrome annually in Nigeria, accounting for about one-third of global cases.

Impact of vaccination

Mr Akinpelu noted that the use of safe vaccines over the past 50 years has averted about 94 million deaths worldwide.

He added that measles-rubella immunisation alone has the potential to prevent 2.8 million deaths in Nigeria, while significantly improving global immunisation coverage.

“Nigeria contributes significantly to the global burden of measles and rubella and currently ranks second only to the Democratic Republic of Congo,” he said, noting that many children under 14 in the country have yet to receive the vaccine.

Tackling misinformation

Also speaking, the state immunisation officer of the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Oluwakemi Oshodi urged journalists and other key stakeholders to help curb misinformation around vaccines, describing wrong messaging as a major obstacle to immunisation uptake.

She said the state government is intensifying public education campaigns to ensure residents have access to accurate information on vaccine safety and effectiveness.

“We are committed to countering misinformation with the right information so people can better understand the importance and impact of vaccines,” she said.

The representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Seyi Nubi also called on journalists to identify, counter and correct misinformation about the measles–rubella vaccine to strengthen public confidence in its safety, effectiveness and quality.

Call for public awareness

The Director of Health Education and Promotion Services, Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Adesola Grace-Honfor, urged the media to intensify awareness on the importance of the measles-rubella vaccine for children within the target age group.

She said the state government’s interest lies in the well-being of its citizens, noting that healthy children contribute to healthier families and communities.