Dr Sekinat Bola Oyebamiji, President of the Medical Women Association of Nigeria, MWAN, Osun State chapter, has assured residents that the Measles Rubella vaccine is safe for children.
Oyebamiji, who is also a Consultant Gynaecologist at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, UNIOSUNTH, stated that the vaccine has been in use in the United Kingdom since the 1970s with proven safety records.
She made this known while delivering her goodwill message at a stakeholders’ meeting on the forthcoming Measles Rubella Vaccination Campaign held on Wednesday in Osogbo.
“The vaccine is safe. We are promoting it. We are privileged that this rollout campaign has been done in Northern Nigeria and now it is our turn in Osun State,” she said.
Oyebamiji urged community leaders to help spread accurate information about the campaign in religious centres and schools across the state.
“I beseech us to talk about it in our churches, mosques and schools. Schools should allow children to be vaccinated. It is good for us,” she added.
She explained that the campaign is important to MWAN because its members are both doctors and mothers with a focus on child welfare.
“Anything that involves children and mothers is very important to us. Vaccination has significantly reduced fatality among children,” Oyebamiji said.
She noted that while children had previously received measles vaccines, the rubella component has now been added to further protect them.
According to her, the absence of the vaccine could lead to Congenital Rubella Syndrome, which she said is characterised by conditions such as blindness and deafness.
Oyebamiji disclosed that the rubella vaccine had previously been accessible mainly to affluent families in cities such as Abuja and Lagos.
She commended the Federal Ministry of Health and President Bola Tinubu for making the vaccine available nationwide.
Also speaking, the State Coordinator of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, Mrs Tope Shadare, attributed the success of vaccination programmes in Osun State to the commitment of stakeholders and government support.
She said the vaccine is aimed at ensuring the healthy wellbeing of children within the targeted age bracket and urged stakeholders to remind parents that vaccination is not limited to the campaign period alone.
Shadare while assuring that trained and licensed vaccinators would administer the injectable vaccine, noted that the campaign targets children aged nine months to 14 years, while routine immunisation will cover children between nine and 15 months.
The Chairman of the Osun State Parents Teachers Association, PTA, Mr Fadare, pledged the association’s support and identified rumours, political machinations and religious sentiments as challenges to vaccination efforts.
“What we are doing here is not for PDP or APC but for the future of our children who are our tomorrow,” he said.
Representatives of UNICEF, Pharm Israel Olakanmi, and the World Health Organisation, Dr Bitrus Atizwen, confirmed that vaccines, materials and funding had been provided, while urging parents to ensure the vaccine is taken only once as recommended.
Vaccination Campaign: Measles Rubella vaccine safe for children — Oyebamiji
