Oyo State government says it is vaccinating 7 million people, including children above nine months, starting from Friday, against yellow fever to preempt the deadly infection spreading to the state.
Executive Secretary, Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, Dr Muideen Olatunji who disclosed this at an orientation for media on yellow fever and meningitis A campaign, on Monday, said both vaccines will be provided at health facilities all over the state, including schools and public places with a large population.
Dr Olatunji, who spoke through Programme Manager, State Emergency Rapid Response on Immunisation, Dr Olukorede Ikwunne, said plans are made to ensure that at least 85 per cent of the people in the state benefit from the yellow fever vaccination campaign.
According to him, the free yellow fever will be given to individuals between the ages of nine months and 44 years while the meningitis A will only be for children between one and five years.
He stated that the vaccines will confer lifelong immunity against yellow fever and meningitis A in the eligible population and assured of its safety.
Dr Olatunji, however, said that pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, sick individuals and people with compromised immunity are not eligible for the vaccination campaign which will last for 10 days all over the state.
He added that individuals allergic to eggs and components of an egg are also not eligible to take the vaccine.
According to him, “we are doing this yellow fever and meningitis A campaign as a preventive measure, not that we have an epidemic on hand. Fingers of children vaccinate will be marked and card indicating that individuals had received these vaccines will also be given to them.”
