Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has called on mothers, caregivers and guardians in the state to make available their eligible children to any health facility offering routine immunisation to access meningitis A vaccine routine schedule just flagged off in the state free of charge.
Makinde, who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Bashir Bello, stated this at the Flagg-off ceremony of the introduction of meningitis A vaccine (Men A) into routine immunisation schedule on Friday at Ibadan North East Local Government area.
Makinde said “in pursuance of the responsibilities and commitments of this present administration to deliver comprehensive and quality health care, we are leveraging on every opportunity provided by our development partners; UNICEF, WHO, NPHCDA and other stakeholders to have a robust health care service delivery.
“Infectious diseases continue to contribute to the high mortality rates in developing nations like ours. Fortunately, most of these killer diseases are preventable. The most cost-effective way to prevent these killer diseases is through vaccination. The vaccines are safe, effective and free.
“On this note, I want to crave the indulgence of mothers and caregivers to patronise the immunisation services by taking their eligible children to any health facility offering routine immunisation to access this vaccine free of charge.”
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The governor further noted that Oyo state by the Flagg off is joining other states of the federation to introduce formally Meningitis A vaccine into the Routine Immunisation (RI) schedule which marks another giant stride in improving the health status of our children.
He added that the “introduction of Meningitis A vaccine (Men A) into the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) schedule will provide protection against Neisseria Meningitis serotype A.”
On the occasion, the commissioner for health, Dr Bello, then demonstrated the application of the vaccine on children.
He informed that “all health facilities offering Routine Immunisation henceforth will need to provide Meningitis A vaccines as a single dose injection at nine months alongside measles and yellow vaccines.
“Just like every other routine Immunisation currently on the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) schedule, the Men A vaccine is to be administered free of charge to all eligible children. It is noteworthy that Men A vaccine and all other vaccines are safe, potent and effective on protecting our children from vaccine-preventable diseases.”
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