Measles-Rubella vaccine more efficacious, efficient – ASPHCDA chairman
• As primary healthcare agency set to launch integrated vaccination in Oct
Adamawa State Government has announced plans to roll out Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign in an integrated approach that will ensure swift administration of MR and polio vaccines across all 21 local government areas of the state.
The exercise, which will run from October 16 to 27, 2025, is part of a nationwide effort to protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases and to strengthen Nigeria’s public healthcare system.
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ASPHCDA to boost service delivery through integrated healthcare approach
Speaking at a media engagement in Yola on Wednesday, the Executive Chairman of the Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ADSPHCDA), Dr. Suleiman Sa’idu Bashir, said the integrated immunization approach is more potent, cost-effective, and highly efficient.
According to him, the combination of measles and rubella vaccines significantly improves the efficacy of immunization, raising protection levels from 85 percent to 95 percent.
Dr. Bashir explained that the campaign will target children aged nine months to 14 years, stressing that the initiative is critical to safeguarding the younger population from measles, rubella, and other childhood diseases.
“We appreciate the support being rendered by parents on previous immunization exercises and therefore call on all and sundry to kindly mobilize their children for this exercise.
“Our health workers and caregivers are being sensitized and grouped into teams to conduct the vaccination exercise across the 226 political wards in the state,” he said.
The ADSPHCDA boss revealed that the campaign is expected to reach more than 2.5 million children in Adamawa.
He assured that adequate preparations have been made to ensure smooth delivery, noting that parents and guardians should make their children available at designated points during the campaign.
To ensure effective coverage, 1,024 health workers and an additional 1,685 ad-hoc staff have been trained and deployed across the state.
Dr. Bashir emphasized that the vaccination is free, safe, and designed to improve child survival rates in Adamawa.
Also speaking at the event, the Director of Disease Control and Immunization at ADSPHCDA, Dr. Jacob Vasumu, highlighted that the measles-rubella campaign is a nationwide exercise backed by the federal government and development partners.
He noted that measles and rubella remain significant public health concerns, particularly in communities where vaccination rates are low.
Dr. Vasumu reiterated the state government’s commitment to deliver essential healthcare to residents, pointing out that the integrated vaccine is a proven intervention against outbreaks.
Development partners working in the state also pledged their support for the campaign. Samuel Sha’abu of AFENET STA and Dr. Moses Hyellafiya Kussing of IVAC-STA commended the state’s readiness and assured parents of the vaccine’s safety and efficacy.
Both representatives encouraged parents and guardians to take advantage of the opportunity by presenting their children for vaccination.
They also praised the government for its proactive approach in ensuring wide coverage and building public confidence in immunization campaigns.
Reports indicated that Measles, one of the leading causes of child mortality, can be completely prevented with timely and widespread immunization.
Similarly, rubella, though often mild in children, poses severe risks when contracted by pregnant women, including congenital rubella syndrome that causes birth defects.
Dr. Bashir added that by adopting an integrated approach, Adamawa State is expected to reduce the burden of these diseases and move closer to achieving universal health coverage for children.
He expressed optimism that with strong community participation and continued collaboration with partners, the campaign will not only save lives but also strengthen the overall healthcare delivery system in the state.
He noted that the protection of children is a shared responsibility noting that the oncoming campaign, is one step closer to building a healthier and safer future for every child in Adamawa.
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