Polio: Oyo holds second round immunization May 6 - 9

The Oyo State Government has announced May 6-9, 2017 as the days for the Second Round National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) across the state.

The State Commissioner of Health, Dr Azeez Adeduntan announced this at the weekend in Ibadan while speaking on the forthcoming NIPDs, saying that children would be given oral polio and all missed routine antigens against Poliomyelitis, measles, hepatitis, diphtheria and yellow fever while pregnant woman would be immunized against Tetanus toxoid.

Adeduntan advised parents and care givers to bring out their children and wards from 0-59 months of age for immunization, noting that Vitamin A will also be administered on children between the age of 6months - 5years.

The Commissioner explained that enough personnel have been engaged to conduct the exercise simultaneously across the 33 Local Government Areas and the newly created 35 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of the state to ensure that all children are immunized against the diseases.

Dr Adeduntan, who commended community, religious and traditional leaders as well as other stakeholders in the state for their support and cooperation in ensuring the smooth conduct of the exercise during the first round, urged all stakeholders to continue to co-operate with immunization officials for the second round of the exercise to be successful and hitch-free.

According to him, “Children will be immunized against poliomyelitis, measles, hepatitis, diphtheria, tetanus and yellow fever during the immunization exercise to be held in all health facilities and immunization centres across the state. The children that are also due for Vitamin A will get it. Also, pregnant women will be immunized against tetanus toxoid.

“We are impressed with the level of compliance by parents, care givers and other stakeholders. We want them to continue to cooperate with us and this will facilitate quick response in preventing diseases and addressing other emergency situations in the state.

“We are committed to Polio free State and we want to urge parents to take advantage of the second round of NIPDs to get their children and wards immunized. The immunization is free as well safe and routine vaccination continues after the campaign at health facilities across the state,” Dr Adeduntan added.