Ogun introduces inactivated polio vaccine into routine immunisation for infants

The Ogun Primary Health Care Development Board said it has introduced Inactivated Polio Vaccine as additional vaccination in the Routine Immunisation schedule for infants.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, said this at the launch of the vaccine at Iberekodo Primary Healthcare Centre on Friday in Abeokuta.

Coker, who noted that the vaccine would be given to babies at 14 weeks, said it would protect children against poliovirus and also boost their immunity.

The vaccine was introduced in collaboration with development partners in the health sector.

She explained that the introduction of the vaccine into the Routine Immunisation schedule was in fulfilment of the four major objectives of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

“The GPE Initiative mandated all countries that were using Oral Polio Vaccine to add at least one more dose of Inactivated Polio Vaccine into their schedules by the end of 2015.

“The need for the introduction of the second dose of IPV into RI schedule across the 20 local government areas in the state becomes expedient.

“The effort is aimed at maintaining the polio-free status that Nigeria and indeed Ogun State achieved on Aug. 25, 2020,” Dr. Coker said.

The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Health, Dr. Omolayo Fred-Omojole urged mothers and caregivers to serve as advocates in their respective communities for government to realise its goal.

The Executive Secretary, OGPHCDB, Dr. Elijah Ogunsola, explained that inactivated polio vaccine would be administered to children as their first and second dose at six weeks and 14 weeks respectively.

Ogunsola assured that, the vaccine is safe and effective and the board had put necessary machinery in place to maintain its potency.

Mrs. Abiodun Adenuga and Aderonke Ogunba, who spoke on behalf of mothers and caregivers at the occasion, appreciated the state government for the initiative, promising that mothers would take their children to health facilities to receive the vaccine.

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