By Awayi Kuje
Nasarawa Government through its Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NAPHDA) has organised an orientation exercise for journalists on Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine ahead of its official launch on Oct. 4.
Dr Usman Iskilu-Saleh, Executive Secretary (ES) of the Agency, who spoke at the media engagement on Tuesday in Lafia, said the meeting was geared towards availing journalists with the right information on the MR vaccine for onward dissemination to members of the public.
Iskilu-Saleh, represented by Mr Ismaila Oko, Director of Immunisation at the Agency, noted that misinformation had been the challenge of vaccine uptakes, hence the need for the media engagement.
The ES explained that the MR vaccine was developed as a single vaccine to protect children against Measles and Rubella diseases.
He said that the vaccine would be officially launched on Oct. 4, and would be administered to children from Nine months to 14 years at designated public health facilities.
According to Iskilu-Salah, after the Oct. 4 to Oct. 14, vaccination campaign, the Measles-Rubella vaccine will be incorporated into the routine immunisation exercise.
In his remarks, Dr Ibrahim Tanko, Nasarawa State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, commended NAPHDA for the initiative to educate journalists on the vaccine with a view to leverage their media platforms to influence the public’s behavioural change towards vaccination.
Tanko also emphasised the need for messages on the Measles-Rubella vaccine to be translated into local languages for maximum impact in the rural communities.
Dr Kayode Olawuyi, A Consultant on the Measles-Rubella vaccine campaign, said that the vaccine was developed to safeguard children against measles and rubella – highly contagious viral diseases.
He explained that the vaccination campaign scheduled to hold between Oct. 4, to Oct. 14 was targeted at 104million children from Nine months to 14 years.
Olawuyi said that the essence of the campaign was achieve herd immunity through the vaccination exercise, adding that it would subsequently become part of routine immunisation.
“Children between Nine months to 14 years are targeted for the campaign because they are more prone to catch and spread the measles and rubella diseases. Vaccinating this groups helps protect the whole community,” he said.
He noted that measles and rubella are different viruses that manifest similar symptoms, except that rubella present mild symptoms.
He said that the MR vaccine is safe and effective in protecting against both measles and rubella.
Also, Hajiya Hassana Ibrahim, State Technical Assistant, World Health Organisation (WHO) said the MR vaccine would reduce outbreaks and protect vulnerable people, especially children and pregnant women.
Ibrahim said the MR vaccine are injection that would be administered in the upper left arm of the children free of charge, irrespective of past vaccination.
She explained the vaccine had been approved by WHO and National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
In his presentation on the role of the media, Mr Kalu Idika, a broadcast journalist, highlighted the need for the media to shape public perception on the MR vaccine. (NAN)