Korede Abdullah 
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Lagos State Government announces plans to vaccinate 10.5 million children against measles and rubella in a statewide campaign starting January 20.
The 10-day exercise, with two additional mop-up days, targets children aged nine months to 14 years, according to officials of the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board.
Speaking at a media orientation on Tuesday, State Immunisation Officer Dr Oluwakemi Oshodi urges journalists to help counter vaccine misinformation. “We are committed to tackling wrong messaging with the right information, so people understand the importance of vaccines,” Oshodi says.
Immunisation Programme Coordinator Dr Adetola Akinpelu says the campaign aims to achieve at least 95 per cent coverage across the state, warning that misinformation remains a major threat. “About 90 per cent of people exposed to measles rubella are likely to be infected, but vaccination neutralises the impact,” he states.
Akinpelu warns that while symptoms may be mild in children, infection during pregnancy can lead to congenital rubella syndrome.
“An estimated 10,000 children are born with this condition annually in Nigeria,” he adds.
Director of Health Education and Promotion Services, Adesola Grace-Honfor, stresses that healthy children are critical to strong families and communities.
UNICEF representative Seyi Nubi also calls on journalists to identify and correct misinformation to strengthen public trust in vaccines.
The government reassures residents that the vaccines are safe, effective and free.
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Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
Oluwafunbi Bello 
Mirian Gom 
Hussaini Ibrahim