Health experts and stakeholders have renewed calls for unified efforts to combat measles and rubella in Nigeria.
At a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Centre for Well-being and Integrated Nutrition Solutions (C-WINS) on Friday in Abuja, participants emphasised the urgency of addressing vaccine hesitancy and financial barriers.
They also highlighted the need to strengthen routine immunisation services ahead of the nationwide rollout of the measles-rubella (MR) vaccine.
A public health physician with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Kenneth Adagba outlined plans to tackle vaccine hesitancy through grassroots campaigns and targeted media outreach.
Adagba also stressed the importance of reducing out-of-pocket vaccine expenses to improve accessibility. “Measles anywhere is a threat everywhere,” he warned, emphasising the need to control outbreaks across all 36 states and the FCT.
A seasoned pediatrician, Dr. Nihinlola Mabogunje underscored the significance of incorporating rubella into the measles vaccine to prevent congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) in newborns.
Mabogunje advocated for integrating immunisations into routine healthcare services and ensuring access in hard-to-reach and conflict-affected areas. “No child should die from measles and no child should be left unvaccinated,” she stated.
An epidemiologist from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Lukman Ismaila reported over 10,000 measles cases annually and called for improved vaccination coverage.
He urged regional interventions and the involvement of traditional and religious leaders to promote vaccine acceptance. “Preventing outbreaks is not just about vaccines; it’s about collaboration across all sectors,” he said.
Other speakers emphasised the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach to ensure the success of Nigeria’s MR vaccine campaign, targeting over 23 million children aged 9 to 59 months.
Science Nigeria reports that Nigeria introduced the measles vaccine into its routine immunisation programme in 1978 for children aged nine months.
To strengthen the coordination of measles and rubella programme, the country has established a National Measles Verification Committee (NVC) and a steering committee.
The NVC reviews data on diseases and vaccinations to assess progress towards eliminating measles and rubella. The steering committee provides strategic and tactical advice to achieve the elimination goal.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), measles is a highly contagious viral disease that can lead to blindness, pneumonia and encephalitis, while rubella can cause birth defects.
Factors contributing to low vaccination coverage in Nigeria include low demand, disruptions to immunisation activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine hesitancy and inadequate healthcare infrastructure.
The WHO recommends vaccinating all children and susceptible adults against measles. Children should receive two doses of the MR vaccine, either alone or as part of a combination vaccine.
