Akwa Ibom State government has announced the introduction of Measles Rubella vaccine into its Routine Immunisation (RI) campaigns as part of efforts to prevent childhood killer diseases and reduce incidence of birth defects.
The Measles Rubella (MR) vaccine is a safe and effective combination vaccine that protects against both measles and Rubella. It is safe, effective and widely used globally. The vaccine helps to reduce the incidence of both diseases and prevents Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS)
While Rubella also known as German measles is a contagious disease caused by the Rubella virus, it presents like a mild form of Measles disease while Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) can be contracted when a mother is exposed to the Rubella virus during pregnancy which can cause serious health complications and birth defects, according to experts.
Eno Attah, a medical doctor and executive secretary, Akwa Ibom State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, made this known during a training for media practitioners in Uyo, state capital, adding that though Measles had been part of Routine Immunisation exercise, the introduction of Rubella would help to prevent health complications and birth defects including blindness, deafness, brain damage and a hole in the hole of the newborn.
Represented by Margaret Etim, state Health Promotion Officer, she said the introduction of the Rubella vaccine was set to begin on February 4 during the next round of Routine Immunisation campaign.
“For this campaign, all children aged 9 months to 14 years are eligible to get the Measles Rubbela. After the campaign, the vaccine will be available for all children at 9 months and 15 months as part of Routine Immunisation.
“The vaccine is available in all vaccinating public health facilities and temporary immunisation posts. The government has paid for the vaccines and will be availed to all eligible children at no charge,’’ she said.
She urged the media practitioners to use their different platforms to sensitise the public on the benefits of the vaccine, its safety and the need for parents to take advantage of the campaign to have their children vaccinated accordingly.
According to her, the MR vaccine can be administered alongside other routine childhood vaccines adding that it is safe and does not interfere with the effectiveness of other vaccines adding that after the MR campaign, the vaccine will continue to be given to children aged 9 months and 15 months during routine immunisation programmes.
In a goodwill message, a representative of UNICEF expressed continued partnership with the state government in protecting the health of children while emphasising the importance of vaccination in protecting children and the community from deadly vaccine preventable diseases like Measles and Rubella pointing out that “even if a child has received the measles vaccine before, they should still get the MR vaccine.”
The vaccination is to be administered by trained healthcare workers across all parts of the state.
