The Ondo state government through the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, has embarked on sensitisation of stakeholders and caregivers on the need for parents to ensure that children in the 18 local government areas of the state are properly vaccinated against child killer diseases.
The Director Disease Control and Immunization, Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Victor Adefesoye who spoke extensively at a Stakeholders meeting on Inactivated Polio Vaccine2 (IPV2), held at the headquarters of the Ondo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Oke-Eda, Akure said it is important for mothers to vaccinate their children from birth with Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), Inactive Polio Vaccine 1(IPV1) at 6weeks and IPV2 at 14weeks as any child who skips the vaccine is at risk of having polio.
He disclosed that the vaccines are free and safe.
While urging the stakeholders to encourage their people to take necessary vaccines, Adefesoye stressed that the key stakeholders were invited to the meeting in order for them to step down the sensitisation at their respective domains, religious centres, markets and homes as they are the closest to the people.
Speaking on Covid-19 vaccination, Adefesoye stated that all Covid-19 vaccines administered in Nigeria had been approved as safe for use by NAFDAC and NDLEA.
He further added that the vaccine is for persons from the age of 18 years and above and that being vaccinated doesn’t mean one cannot be infected, it only prevents from getting seriously ill when infected.
“The Moderna Vaccine is on going in all 18 local governments of Ondo State, those that have taken the first doze of Astrazeneca vaccine cannot take Moderna vaccine as the second doze, there are designated health facilities and temporary fixed posts, data will be electronically captured like the first phase and vaccine cards will be issued”, he said.
Also addressing the stakeholders, Dr Samuel Abiona, who is the Director Community Health Services and Education, explained that the meeting’s objective is to provide feedback for stakeholders on the implementation of vaccination, to solicit for more support of stakeholders on all faces of immunization programs in Ondo State.
Abiona noted that it was also convened to sensitize participants about ongoing Covid-19 Vaccination and planned Out Break Response (OBR).
He said the stakeholders’ roles are to create awareness during and after the vaccination, participate in supervision during implementation of immunization campaigns, report rumours, informations relating to conversations of people about vaccines, to support and encourage caregivers to take out their children for immunization, to resolve cases of rejections that may occur in their domains and help monitor complaints of those receiving vaccine.
Similarly, Dr Folayemi Doyeni, the Director Logistics at the Agency, announced that another vaccine, MOPV will kick start by September 4 to September 7, 2021.
“MOPV2 is a modified version of the existing nOPV2, it has been under development since 2011. It will be taken to houses, churches, mosques, market places, social gatherings for children.
Stakeholders who attended the sensitisation including Mrs Taiwo Ajayi from the Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs Dunni Ajiboye from the Red Cross, Ondo State Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) chairman, Rev. Ayo Oladapo, Alhaji Yusuf Agbesinga who is the chief Imam of Gaga community, Mrs Rebecca Akinduro, a consultant to UNICEF on community for development, Mrs Victoria Oyedele from National Council for Women Society, Mrs Kemi Adedapo Aisida, Ondo State Vice President Iyalaje/Iyaloja, Ward Development Committee (WDC) Chairman, Ifedore Local Government among others promised total commitment to the vaccination programmes.
They commended the state government especially the State Primary Health Care Development Agency for carrying out proper enlightenment on vaccinations in the state.
