Ogun Introduces Additional Polio Vaccine Into Routine Immunization

 

ABEOKUTA - The Ogun State Primary Health Care Development Board (OGPHCDB) in collaboration with Development Partners in the health sector has introduced Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV2), as additional vaccination in the Routine Immunisation (RI) schedule, to be received by children at 14 weeks.

Speaking at the flag-off at Iberekodo Primary Healthcare Centre in Abeokuta North Local Government Area, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker stated that the vaccine would protect children against polio virus and further boost their immunity.

Dr. Coker said the introduction of the vaccine into the RI schedule was in fulfilment of the four major objectives of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), which mandated all countries that were using Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), to add at least one more dose of IPV into their schedules by the end of 2015.

“The need for the introduction of second dose of IPV into our Routine Immunisation schedule throughout the 20 Local Government Areas in the State becomes expedient. The effort is aimed at maintaining the polio free status that Nigeria and indeed Ogun State achieved on August 25, 2020", she noted.

Contributing, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Health, Dr. Omolayo Fred-Omojole urged mothers and caregivers in attendance to serve as advocates in their respective communities for government to realize its goal.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, OGPHCDB, Dr. Elijah Ogunsola who explained that Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) including IPV2 would be administer to children as their first and second dose at 6weeks and 14weeks respectively, assured that the vaccine is safe and effective, adding that the board has put necessary machinery in place to maintain its potency.

In their separate goodwill messages, the State Coordinator, World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Sunday Abidoye, his counter part from the  National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Mrs. Victoria Adebiyi and representatives of  United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and Nigeria Polio Plus Committee, Pharm. Florence Molokwu and Dr. Festus Adetonwa respectively, said the introduction of the vaccine was another giant stride at improving the health and wellbeing of children in the State, promising the continued  technical support of their various organisations.

Speaking on behalf of mothers and caregivers at the occasion, Mrs. Abiodun Adenuga and Aderonke Ogunba appreciated the State government for the initiative, promising to take their children to health facilities to receive the vaccine.