– — Warns: Vaccine Not To Be Taken By Pregnant Children, Women
The Ekiti State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EKSPHCDA) has called on education, traditional, religious bodies and other stakeholders in Ekiti State to join hands with the agency to ensure successful implementation of Measles and Rubella vaccination in the state as part of efforts to protect the children.
This was made known in a one day stakeholders’s meeting in Ekiti State organised by the agency in partnership with UNICEF, WHO and other relevant stakeholders recently in preparation for the commencement of the vaccination exercise for children between the age of 9 months to 14 years billed for January, 2026.
Speaking at the event, the State Health Educator, Dr. Mrs Olajumoke Oguntoye said the main objective of the meeting is to orientate and sensitize the stakeholders about the proposed introduction of Measles – Rubella vaccine in Ekiti State in January and also warned that the vaccine must not be taken by pregnant women or children as it may have adverse effects on the unborn baby.
The State Immunization Officer, Mrs. Ogunlola Omolabake, disclosed that the MR vaccine would be introduced into routine immunization in the third week of January, preceded by a 10-day statewide vaccination campaign. She explained that the campaign would target children aged 9 months to 14 years, after which the vaccine would become part of routine immunization for children at 9 months and 15 months as first and second doses respectively, replacing the existing stand alone measles vaccine.
Mrs Ogundola stated that the campaign targets 17% of Ekiti State’s total population, noting that achieving between 90% and 95% of this target would be considered a successful implementation. She added that both administrative coverage data and post-campaign surveys would be used to assess the effectiveness of the exercise.
On implementation strategies, she revealed that all 317 health facilities offering routine immunization across the state would remain open throughout the campaign period. In addition, mobile teams would be deployed to communities to set up temporary vaccination posts, while targeted outreach would be carried out in rural areas, factory settlements, Fulani camps, and security-compromised locations, in collaboration with security agencies where necessary.
The World Health Organization (WHO), representative in Ekiti State, Dr. Ebube Eronini, described the campaign as a critical intervention aimed at closing immunity gaps against highly contagious measles and rubella infections. She noted that the exercise would cover all communities and settlements in Ekiti State to ensure that no eligible child is left behind.
Dr. Eronini explained that measles, a highly contagious viral disease, can lead to severe complications such as malnutrition, blindness, encephalitis, and death, particularly among children under age five. She added that rubella poses serious risks to pregnant women, often resulting in congenital rubella syndrome, which can cause hearing loss, heart defects, and visual impairment in infants.
Calling for widespread participation, the State Technical Assistant for the International Vaccine Access Centre (IVAC), Mrs. Aladenika Folakemi, urged parents and caregivers to take advantage of the campaign window, noting that children above the eligible age would no longer have access to the vaccine once it is fully integrated into routine immunization.
On community engagement, the State Health Educator, Dr. Mrs. Olajumoke Oguntoye, remarked that extensive advocacy and sensitization activities had already been carried out across all 16 local government areas of the state. Stating that traditional rulers, religious leaders, school authorities, parent-teacher association, and education stakeholders have been engaged and have endorsed the vaccination exercise.
Health officials at the meeting collectively appealed to parents, caregivers, community leaders, religious institutions, schools, and the media to support the campaign, stressing that its success depends on collective responsibility and community acceptance.
Also, leaders of notable associations, religious bodies and government representatives in unison, expressed their readiness to support the agency in ensuring a successful immunisation exercise come January noting that they have equally engaged members of their different associations and religious bodies of the importance of the vaccine to their can the state at large.
They reaffirmed that the 10-day Measles–Rubella vaccination campaign will commence in the third week of January 2026, urging families to fully participate in order to safeguard public health and secure a healthier future for children in Ekiti State.
Important dignitaries present at the meeting include, State immunisation officer, Mrs Ogundola Omolabake, UNICEF representative, Mr Raiwan Olasunkanmi, State Technical Officer from IVAC, Mrs Aladenika Folakemi, WHO representative in Ekiti State, Dr Ebube Eronini, Dr Mrs Olajumoke Oguntoye, iya lojas, Ewi,s representatives and host of others.
