Kwara State to Launch Immunisation Campaign for Over One Million Children Against Polio

Babatunji Wusu –

• Kwara State targets over one million children under 5 for immunisation between 26 and 29 April 2025.

• The “Immunisation Plus Days” campaign aims to protect children against polio disease and boost immunity.

• The initiative will cover all 16 local government areas in the state.

• The vaccine is safe, efficacious, and free from overdose risks, with all children aged 0-5 encouraged to participate.

• The Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency urges community involvement for the success of the campaign.

Kwara State is set to launch a crucial immunisation campaign targeting over one million children under the age of 5, scheduled to run from 26 to 29 April 2025. The initiative, known as the “Immunisation Plus Days” campaign, aims to boost immunity and protect young children from the dangers of polio disease.

The campaign will be conducted across all 16 local government areas of Kwara State. According to Prof. Nusirat Elelu, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KWSPHCDA), poliomyelitis (polio) remains a highly infectious viral disease that primarily affects children under five. While Nigeria is currently free from the wild polio virus, Prof. Elelu stressed that there are ongoing threats from neighbouring countries and the circulating polio virus, making vaccination crucial.

The immunisation will be administered alongside similar efforts in other states, as part of the national schedule coordinated by the National Polio Emergency Operation Centre. Children aged 0-5 years will be vaccinated, regardless of their previous immunisation status. The vaccine, as emphasised by Prof. Elelu, is safe, effective, and free from overdose risks.

The KWSPHCDA is calling on parents, caregivers, religious leaders, schools, and community institutions to ensure that eligible children are vaccinated as health teams move door-to-door, visiting markets, religious houses, and schools.