The Kwara State Government will on Tuesday begin the second phase of the Big Catch Up (BCU) child immunisation.

The state Immunisation Social Mobilisation Officer, Dr Duope Shittu, disclosed this at a meeting with immunisation stakeholders in Ilorin.

The initiative is part of a broader strategy to address significant gaps in immunisation coverage exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ms Shittu said that the meeting was aimed at promoting the second phase of the BCU by reassuring communities of vaccine safety and effectiveness.

She said that it was also aimed to address myths and misconceptions about vaccines.

Ms Shittu said that children aged zero to five years, who had not completed their immunisation schedules would be vaccinated in the phase.

She emphasised the critical need for children to be immunised against killer childhood diseases.

The officer said that the exercise would be carried out at designated health centres and vaccination posts across the state.

She called on stakeholders to create more awareness for the exercise in communities for a successful implementation of the exercise.

Ms Shittu urged parents and caregivers to take advantage of the opportunity to immunise  their children, emphasising that the vaccines were free, safe and effective.

The state Immunisation Officer, Sarat Yunus, who spoke on immunisation strategy for BCU, said that the vaccines were essential for protecting children against diseases such as polio and meningitis.

Ms Yunus added that the programme aimed to ensure that children would receive  necessary vaccination to safeguard their health and well-being.

(NAN)