Oyo Seeks Parents’Co-operation As Polio Vaccination Begins Saturday

Oyo State Government has announced the commencement of the second phase of polio vaccination for children between zero month to 59 months.

The Executive Secretary, Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, Dr Muideen Olatunji, said this in Ibadan on Tuesday.

He said in a statement on Tuesday that the vaccination would begin on Saturday, October 9.

He was quoted to have said this at the sensitisation meeting for state Social Mobilisation Committee members and other relevant stakeholders, held in Ibadan.

While allaying the fears of some individuals in the state on the routine vaccination, he explained that the polio vaccine has no side effects on children, but would protect them against the virus.

He maintained that the vaccination exercise will last for four days,adding that the exercise will not be limited to residentials but also covers mosques, churches, schools, religious gatherings and market places .

He hinted that two additional days have been set aside to cover communities that field officers might not be able to cover during the four days program so as to ensure proper vaccination of every child in each community.

He urged mothers and guardians in nooks and crannies of the state to make their children available to the immunization team that would be deployed to their communities for hitch free exercise.

“Immunization is not posionous , it is free and safe for children.

” 200 children have tendencies of developing one health challenge or the other in a community where only one child is immunized.

“We are calling on community leaders, religious leaders and other relevant stakeholders to spread the message in their communities for mothers to make their children available for the exercise . “

“The government will not relent in its efforts towards improving on the exercise, we will also ensure partners and individuals conform with the rules of the program for excellent result”

Also speaking , Hajia Aminat Yahya , called for effective communication , group mobilization and house to house campaign by relevant stakeholders to change the narrative in local government areas of the state that are with red flags at the moment.