Federal Government is set to resume vaccination of at least 30 million Nigerians across seven states of the federation, against the Yellow Fever (YF) disease following challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The vaccination, with support from the World Health Organisation WHO, Gavi and the Vaccine Alliance will be relaunched in Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Delta, Osun, Ondo, and Oyo state.
Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib said: “While COVID-19 remains a pressing priority, we are pleased to be able to safely relaunch life-protecting vaccination campaigns against yellow fever this week.
He stressed that the pending 2019 phase 3 YF campaign would be completed in Anambra state.
According to him, tbis will be followed by further YF vaccination efforts between 2021-2022 aim at targeting more than 95 million persons as part of the push to eliminate yellow fever epidemics.
The Executive Secretary added that these campaigns were to be in accordance with the WHO guidelines for implementation of mass campaigns in the context of COVID-19 pandemic with the use of PPEs and infection prevention control strategies as recommended.
“Almost 30 million Nigerians will be protected for life from these campaigns in the coming months – a remarkable achievement by our health care workers and communities” he said.
Speaking, the Managing Director for Country Programmes at Gavi, Thabani Maphosa said the organisation had been a long-time partner in this effort and committed to continuing to support the Government of Nigeria and partners in their efforts to reach the millions, including children, who were at risk.
Also the WHO Representative to Nigeria, Dr. Kazadi Mulombo maintained that the agency had helped source and provide 265,000 face masks to support the safe implementation of life-saving yellow fever vaccination activities in the COVID-19 context in Anambra state.
According to him, technical support provided by WHO to National and State levels wouldl ensure a high-quality campaign including planning, training of health care workers, supervision of the campaign, and high vaccination coverage. TN