Taraba State Government has launched an ambitious campaign to vaccinate 1.6 million children against Measles-Rubella, set to run from October 18–27, 2025.
The initiative aims to bolster child health and curb vaccine-preventable diseases across the state.
Chido Zakari, representing the Director of the Taraba State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (TSPHCDA), announced the plan during a stakeholders’ meeting in Jalingo on Tuesday.
The campaign will span all 16 local government areas and the state’s two special development zones, with comprehensive preparations finalized in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health and partners like UNICEF.
Zakari highlighted the recent success of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination drive as a catalyst for this effort, urging stakeholders to intensify community mobilization to ensure every eligible child is reached.
Taraba’s State Immunization Officer, Dr. Tsamu Yaro, emphasized the urgency of the campaign, noting Nigeria’s significant contribution to global cases of measles, rubella, and circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVPV2).
“The Measles-Rubella vaccine offers broader protection, safeguarding children against rubella and reducing the risk of congenital rubella syndrome,” Yaro explained.
This initiative is part of a nationwide push to close immunity gaps and enhance child health outcomes across Nigeria, aligning with efforts to combat vaccine-preventable diseases.
