The Kaduna State government has started a mass vaccination campaign to prevent yellow fever in the state. The campaign will last for 12 days, from October 30 to November 10, and will cover all the 23 local government areas of the state.
The director of public health at Kaduna State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Hamza Ikara-Ibrahim, announced the campaign on Monday in Kaduna. He said that the vaccination would target people aged between nine months and 44 years, who are most at risk of contracting the disease.
He said that yellow fever is a silent killer disease that can be prevented by vaccination. He urged residents to avail themselves of the opportunity and get vaccinated at the nearest health facility or temporary post in their community.
He said that the campaign would use 1,198 primary health centres, worship centres, motor parks, markets, and schools as vaccination sites. He said that the state aimed to vaccinate 85 per cent of the population, which is over 10 million people.
He assured residents that the vaccine is free and safe, and warned them not to listen to any misinformation or rumours about the vaccine. He also appealed to traditional and religious leaders to support the campaign and sensitise their followers on the importance of vaccination.