The Enugu State Government has announced plans to commence a statewide Measles–Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign from February 4 to February 14, 2026, with additional mop-up days, targeting more than two million children aged nine months to 14 years across the state.
The campaign, according to the government, is part of Nigeria’s broader national strategy to eliminate measles and rubella and protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases.
The Director of Disease Control and Immunisation at the Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Chinelo Nnadi, disclosed this during a media orientation programme on the Measles–Rubella vaccine. She identified misinformation and prevailing myths as major obstacles to vaccine uptake despite the proven benefits of immunisation.
Dr. Nnadi urged media practitioners to intensify public enlightenment on the safety and importance of vaccines, noting that credible reporting plays a crucial role in building community trust and acceptance.
She explained that while measles and rubella are often mild in children, rubella poses serious risks during pregnancy, leading to congenital rubella syndrome in newborns, which can result in lifelong disabilities such as heart disease.
“The campaign aims to reduce measles and rubella incidence and protect children from avoidable illnesses through timely and comprehensive immunisation,” she said.
According to her, the success of the MR vaccine rollout goes beyond vaccine availability and logistics, requiring strong advocacy and community mobilisation to ensure that all eligible children are presented for vaccination.
“It is not just about getting the vaccine or the logistics to deliver it. We need people who will encourage mothers, fathers and adolescents to come forward, and that is where stakeholders play a critical role,” she said.
Also speaking, the State Immunisation Officer of the Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Chinyere Chime, said vaccination activities would take place in all 17 local government areas and wards of the state.
She explained that services would be offered at designated public health facilities as well as temporary vaccination posts within communities to guarantee wide coverage and easy access.
Dr. Chime described measles and rubella as leading causes of child mortality and congenital abnormalities worldwide, stressing that both diseases are completely preventable through the combined measles-rubella vaccine when properly administered.
“After this, the vaccine will become part of routine immunisation for children at nine months and 15 months as first and second doses respectively, replacing the existing standalone measles vaccine,” she said.
A representative of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Deputy Director, Surveillance Division, Abdulaziz Yahaya Ahmed, said the campaign is designed to close existing immunity gaps against measles and rubella.
He noted that the national target is to reduce measles and rubella cases to five per million by 2026 and one per million by 2030.
Mr. Ahmed urged journalists to report accurately and actively support community sensitisation efforts through their various media platforms.
“Responsible media coverage is key to the success of the vaccination campaign,” he said.
Development partners, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, ARFH, C-WIN, AFENET, CMS and IVAC, endorsed the vaccination exercise and called on parents and caregivers to take full advantage of the campaign window.
They cautioned that children above the eligible age bracket would no longer have access to the vaccine once it is fully integrated into routine immunisation, stressing that the vaccines are free, safe and effective, and will be administered strictly by trained and qualified health workers.
