The Ogun State Government has announced plans to vaccinate 2.9 million children aged nine months to 14 years against Measles and Rubella (MR) in a statewide campaign scheduled for January 20 to 29, 2026.
Dr Elijah Ogunsola, Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Primary Healthcare Board, disclosed the plan on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ engagement at the board’s conference room in the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. He said the campaign aims to significantly reduce the high number of measles cases recorded in the state last year.
Rubella, also known as German measles, is a contagious viral disease that can cause rash, runny nose, cough, and red, watery eyes. The disease is particularly risky for pregnant women, as it can result in Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS), which may lead to blindness, deafness, heart defects, or brain damage in newborns.
Dr Ogunsola explained that the campaign will follow a settlement-to-settlement approach rather than a house-to-house strategy. “We shall identify a central place in each settlement where our team of six personnel will vaccinate children from nine months to 14 years,” he said.
The campaign will cover 20,000 settlements across the state, deploying over 7,000 personnel. Vaccination points will be located no more than 500 metres apart to ensure accessibility for parents and guardians. The exercise is expected to conclude on February 1, 2026, after which children reaching the nine-month age bracket will be vaccinated at health centres.
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The campaign will also target schools, churches, and mosques to ensure that all eligible children are reached. Dr Ogunsola reassured the public of the safety of the MR vaccine and urged parents to participate actively in the programme.
He called on the media and development partners to support the government in ensuring the success of the vaccination exercise.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Rubella is a growing health concern in Nigeria due to its potential to cause CRS in newborns. Nationwide MR vaccination campaigns have been ongoing since late 2025, with the goal of eliminating the disease by 2030. Peak cases typically occur between January and April, mainly affecting children under 15 years.