The Gombe government says it has targeted 1.7 million children for measles-rubella vaccination in the ongoing integrated vaccination campaign.

The 2025 Integrated Rubella-Measles Campaign, scheduled to take place between October 18 and 28, is being implemented in partnership with the Gombe government, UNICEF, GAVI, and WHO.

The campaign aims to vaccinate children up to 14 years against measles and rubella, polio, HPV, and routine immunisation.

The vaccines protect children against killer diseases and have been used worldwide for over 50 years, saving millions of lives.

Abdulkarim Aliyu, immunisation officer at the Gombe State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, said this on Tuesday in Gombe, after monitoring the immunisation alongside representatives of the United Nations Children’s Fund.

He said that over 30 per cent of targeted children had been vaccinated as of day three of the exercise.

“About 1.8million doses of MR vaccines were received for Gombe state, and we are targeting 1.7 million children. For now, 481,734 children have been vaccinated as of the evening of day three. 

“For the Oral Polio Vaccine, we received over one million doses, and as of the evening of day three of the campaign, 253,772 children have been reached with the vaccine,” he said.

Mr Aliyu expressed optimism that with the large turnout and low resistance witnessed so far, the state would meet its target by at least 95 per cent.

Members of the UNICEF team include Rownak Khan, deputy representative of UNICEF in Nigeria; Kabiru Shall, the immunisation manager; and Oluseyi Olosunde, health officer. 

The team visited the state central cold store and those in some LGAs to monitor the vaccine management situation. They also visited some traditional leaders in the Billiri LGA to solicit their support. 

(NAN)