The Taraba State Government has announced plans to vaccinate at least 1.6 million children during next month’s immunisation campaign against measles and rubella. The exercise is scheduled to run from October 18 to 27 and will cover all 16 local government areas as well as the state’s two special development areas.
Representative of the Taraba State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Chido Zakari, confirmed that preparations have been completed in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and development partners, including UNICEF. He said the effort builds on the recent success of the Human Papillomavirus vaccination drive and aims to mobilise communities to ensure no child is left out.
Taraba state Immunisation Officer, Dr. Tsamu Yaro, stressed that Nigeria still contributes significantly to the global burden of measles, rubella, and vaccine-derived polio. He said the upcoming campaign is designed to close immunity gaps and protect more children from preventable diseases.
The state explained that the combined measles-rubella vaccine offers wider protection than the measles-only vaccine, helping reduce cases of congenital rubella syndrome while strengthening child health outcomes.
