The new vaccine, which will be officially launched in Kwara on October 9, offers protection against both measles and rubella, unlike the old single-dose measles vaccine. The rollout is part of a national campaign that will be flagged off by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on October 6, with state-level launches to follow across the federation.
Speaking in Ilorin, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Prof. Nusirat Elelu, explained the importance of the new vaccine.
“Previously, we only gave measles vaccine at nine and 15 months, but we were still leaving children and mothers exposed to rubella,” she said. “Rubella may look like a mild form of measles, but when contracted in pregnancy, it can lead to congenital rubella syndrome, which causes lifelong disabilities for unborn children such as deafness, blindness, and heart defects.”
The catch-up campaign in Kwara will target children aged nine months to 14 years, with the state’s First Lady expected to lead the official launch.
Preparations Underway
Elelu disclosed that Kwara had already received its vaccine supply, completed national-level training, and was now cascading training to local health teams to ensure coverage even in hard-to-reach communities.
To drive awareness, the government has engaged traditional and religious leaders, schools, and media outlets, while also planning community activities, including a novelty football match on October 8.
“We are prepared. Sensitisation has started, and we are using both community engagement and media advocacy to ensure people understand the importance of this vaccine,” she said.
Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Prof. Nusirat Elelu, Credit: Kwara State Govt website
Health System Strengthening
The rollout coincides with Kwara’s broader investment in primary healthcare infrastructure. According to Elelu, more than 100 primary healthcare centres (PHCs) are undergoing renovation through state funding and partnerships with development organisations such as UNICEF, the Global Fund, and the World Bank IMPACT project.
“So far, over 70 PHCs are earmarked for renovation across the 16 LGAs,” she said, noting that the goal is to guarantee at least one fully functional PHC per political ward. She also highlighted that the state had consistently met its health counterpart funding obligations for five years running.
Tackling Misinformation
Despite these efforts, Elelu warned that misinformation remains one of the greatest obstacles to successful immunisation campaigns.
“Every time misinformation wins, a life is lost,” she cautioned. “That is why we use bottom-up community engagement and media advocacy to push correct information. We must not sensationalise bad information. We must give people facts so they can make informed health decisions.”
Health experts have long linked Nigeria’s high child mortality rates to poor infrastructure and low vaccine uptake. Kwara’s introduction of the MR vaccine, combined with ongoing PHC renovations, is being viewed as a critical step towards reversing this trend and safeguarding the health of mothers and children across the state.