The Kwara State Government has announced preparations for a major polio vaccination campaign, aiming to immunize over one million children across all 16 Local Government Areas of the state.

Dr. Nusirat Elelu, Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, made this known on Tuesday during a press briefing in Ilorin.

Dr. Elelu explained that the agency has already begun a three-day Local Immunization Days (LID) program, with the next round of polio vaccinations set to commence on October 26th.

“Preparation has also been concluded to roll out another round of polio campaign in the state,” she said.

The campaign will focus on immunizing children under five against life-threatening diseases such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, diarrhea, and polio.

Dr. Elelu emphasized the importance of immunization in reducing child mortality.

“Immunization provides protection against life-threatening vaccine-preventable diseases such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, diarrhea, influenza, meningitis, and cancers, and can reduce most post-neonatal under-five mortality,” she warned.

The current three-day routine immunization program, which began on October 21st and runs until October 23rd, is expected to reach over 300,000 children under the age of two across the state’s 193 wards.

“Vaccination will take place at Primary Health Care Facilities and outreach centers.

Additionally, the upcoming Outbreak Response campaign will target more than one million children from October 26th to 29th, aimed at preventing childhood paralysis due to the circulating Mutant Variant of the Poliovirus.” She added

Dr. Elelu called on parents, caregivers, schools, religious institutions, and communities to ensure their children receive the vaccine, which is safe and effective.

“All children zero to five years are expected to be vaccinated irrespective of their previous vaccination status. The vaccine is safe, efficacious, and does not have overdose,” she reassured.

The health agency will deploy vaccination teams across homes, markets, and places of worship during the campaign to ensure maximum coverage.