Adedolapo Fasawe, mandate secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat, FCT Administration (FCTA), has appealed to parents and schools to allow access for the ongoing nationwide integrated vaccination exercise for children.

Ms Fasawe made the appeal at a news conference on Thursday in Abuja, noting that the exercise, which began on October 8, had been extended by one week.

She said it had come to the attention of the FCTA that several schools and institutions within the territory had denied vaccination teams access to children.

“The vaccination teams are going round the city to ensure that every eligible child is protected, yet some schools and parents have refused access,” she said.

The ongoing exercise covers measles-rubella for children aged nine months to 14 years and polio for ages 0–59 months.

It also includes Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination for nine-year-old girls, general immunisation for children aged 0–23 months, and other vaccines against neglected tropical diseases and malaria.

Ms Fasawe, who frowned at the development, said such denial not only deprived eligible children of protection against deadly diseases but also disrupted the implementation of the vaccination plan.

“This non-compliance is deeply concerning because it undermines public health gains and puts children at unnecessary risk,” she said.

She reminded parents and schools of the Child Rights Act (CRA) 2003, as domesticated in the FCT, which guarantees every child the right to health and protection from preventable diseases.

“Sections 13 and 14 of the Act place a legal obligation on parents, guardians, and institutions, including schools, to ensure that every child is fully immunised,” Ms Fasawe stated.

“Denying a child access to vaccination is, therefore, not merely an administrative lapse; it is a violation of a fundamental child right,” she stressed.

Ms Fasawe said the FCT health administration had initiated measures to address the issue, including compiling a list of schools that refused to allow the exercise.

She said the administration had also begun targeted advocacy and community sensitisation, and issued letters to affected schools reminding them of their legal responsibilities under the CRA.

According to her, a three-day mop-up exercise involving 132 vaccination teams will be conducted to reach unvaccinated children across the affected areas.

“To strengthen enforcement and ensure sustainability, the FCTA has approved mandatory immunisation verification during admission, re-admission, or transfer,” she said.

She added that every school would now maintain a child health register, collaborate with nearby Primary Health Care Centres for on-site immunisation, and promote awareness during school assemblies and PTA meetings.

“Failure to comply with these directives will attract administrative sanctions under existing FCT education and public health regulations,” Ms Fasawe warned.

(NAN)