The Kwara State government has announced plans to vaccinate over one million children across the state's 16 local government areas as part of its polio vaccination campaign. Nusirat Elelu, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, made this known on Tuesday during the launch of a three-day Local Immunisation Day (LID) event in Ilorin.

Ms Elelu stated that 300,000 children are set to be vaccinated during the LID, with the broader polio vaccination campaign aiming to reach over one million children under the age of two.

“The polio vaccination campaign, which will commence from October 26 to October 29, is a round of outbreak responses to circulating mutant variants of polio.

“This campaign is meant to prevent childhood paralysis due to the polio virus. All children 0–5 years old are expected to be vaccinated irrespective of their previous vaccination status.

“The vaccine is safe, efficacious and does not have an overdose.

“Immunisation provides protection against life-threatening vaccine-preventable diseases such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, diarrhoea, influenza, meningitis, and cancers and can reduce most post-neonatal under-five mortality,” she said.

The executive secretary also explained that the three-day routine LID immunisation, which commenced on Monday and would end on Wednesday, would protect children under two years.

She noted that the immunisation would take place across all healthcare facilities and outreach posts.

“All parents, caregivers, religious houses, schools, and Quranic institutions should make eligible children available for vaccination as the team moves from houses to markets, religious houses and schools,” she said.

(NAN)