Lorine Emenike
The Rivers State Primary Health care management board says it will commence the second round of intensive immunization of children against measles across the State from 11th to 18th of November 2019.
Speaking during a media stakeholder’s meeting in Port Harcourt, the Director of Community Health Services of the board, DOCTOR ISAAC OPURUM said the Routine Immunization Intensification includes Maternal and health child week starting from 11th- 14th November; 2nd dose of Measles vaccination From 14th-18th November for children between 9month to 23 months; and Yellow fever Vaccination for children within the age of nine months to four years from 27th of November to 6th of December.
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He called on caregivers to avail their children for the vaccines, adding that more of the outreach will be carried out in the rural areas.
on his part, the state Immunization officer, DOCTOR JOSEPH URANG said Nigeria is targeting to eliminate measles from 2020 to 2028.
Doctor Urang said one dose of the vaccine taken by a child has the possibility of protecting 95percent of people around the area.
Urang said the objective of the programme is for children within 15 months of age to build a strong immune, provide an opportunity to vaccine children older than one year who missed their first dose of measles, to establish the foundation for the second year of life immunization and integration and to reduce mobility and mortality rate in Nigeria.
The state health educator, DORIS NRIA said mobilising people by a way of media and religious advocacy will go along way to reduce the negative effect of the diseases.
