ANAMBRA State Primary Healthcare Development Agency
has taken measles vaccination in the state a notch higher with the introduction
of Measles Containing Vaccine2 (MCV2) into the Routine Immunization (RI) against measles.
The new
measles vaccination campaign kicks off today,
following fears that a single dose of Measles Containing Vaccine can no
longer be guaranteed of effectively covering people against Measles attack.
According to a
release signed by the state’s Executive Secretary, Primary Healthcare Agency,
Dr. Chioma Ezenyimulu and made available to National Light , Anambra State
Primary Healthcare is introducing Measles Containing Vaccine 2 dose into
Routine Immunisation, Meningitis ‘A’, Vaccine and Yellow Fever vaccine
campaign.
Measles is a
highly infectious airborne disease caused by the Measles virus through respiratory
droplets. It is one of the childhood killer diseases and tends to occur in
epidemics. Its mortality rate is more amongst children less than 5years who
live in overcrowded conditions.
“A single
dose of Measles Containing Vaccine (MCV) is not enough to attain at least 95
per cent coverage and currently, about 70 per cent of all measles cases are
among children under five years of age who missed being vaccinated in the first
year of their lives; hence the need for a second dose of the MCV.”
The statement
adds that the vaccination centres for the new coming MCV 2 is at health centres
and designated areas across all the Local Government Areas in the state.
Contained
further in their release include, “Anambra State Primary Healthcare
Development Agency in collaboration with partner agencies is organising mass
Men ‘A’ vaccine and yellow fever vaccine campaign. The Men ‘A’ vaccine, which
is for protection against Meningitis A is for children ages 1-5 years and the
yellow fever vaccine is for everybody within the age of nine months to 44
years.”
This
vaccination exercise is scheduled to last from 9th to 18th December 2019. The
men’s centres for the vaccination are in all health centres and designated
temporary sites across all the local governments in the state.