The government of Kwara State has started another polio vaccination campaign for children under five in the state.
This round of vaccination is the second one this year and is supposed to reach all parts of the state from Saturday, April 20th to Tuesday, April 23rd, 2024.
During the campaign kick-off, Dr Nusirat Elelu, the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, urged parents, religious institutions, and schools to ensure that the targeted children get vaccinated within the given time. She also stated that the vaccine is safe and effective.
Elelu mentioned, “I urge all parents, caregivers, religious institutions, schools, and Quranic establishments to make sure that eligible children are available for vaccination as the teams visit households, markets, religious institutions, and schools.
“All children aged 0 to 5 should be vaccinated regardless of their previous vaccination status. I want to emphasize that the vaccine is safe, effective, and cannot be overdosed.”
She explained that poliomyelitis (polio) is a very contagious viral disease that mainly affects children under five, and noted that the virus can be spread through contact with feces, or, less commonly, by contaminated water or food.
Elelu pointed out that even though Nigeria has been declared polio-free, it is important to maintain this status by making sure that the most vulnerable group is protected through boosting the immunity of eligible children with additional and routine vaccination activities, such as this campaign.
She stated that approximately 2,034 vaccination teams will go from door to door to carry out the campaign, aiming to vaccinate as many children as possible against polio.
