The federal government in its desperate efforts to tackle diarrhoea in children, on Monday, flagged off rotavirus vaccine introduction into routine immunization in the country.
The development, according to the Minister of Health,Dr Osagie Ehanire, who flagged off the introduction of the vaccine, would directly avert over 110,000 death for children under five years in the next 10 years.
Ehanire, who was represented at the event held in Abuja, by the ministry’s Director of Port Health Services, Dr. Alex Okoh, said the government had spent huge amounts to fulfil routine immunization vaccines for Nigerian children.
The minister explained that the Global vaccine alliance and other partners are doing a lot to support the country in ensuring Nigeria maintains its pride of place in relevance in the African continent, especially in the provision of basic cost-effective interventions for children and vulnerable populations.
According to him, The government of Nigeria will continue to play its role in the overall success of all the strategies implemented in the health sector towards the achievement of universal health coverage.
The Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib, noted during the flag-off that the Introduction of the Rotavirus vaccine is a big investment due to its substantial economic impact and the number of lives that the country is going to save from the introduction.
Dr Shuaib thanked the minister, traditional and religious leaders, and health workers among others for their constant effort in ensuring the children are vaccinated.
He explained that the vaccine is going to be given orally and will be administered concurrently with the existing Routine Immunization (RI) vaccines at six weeks, ten weeks and 14 weeks respectively.
He also urged parents and caregivers to take their eligible children to the nearest Primary Health Care Center for their children to be fully vaccinated.
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