The Bauchi State Government says it is aiming to reach about 2.6 million children in the ongoing Supplemental Immunisation Plus Days (SIPDs) campaign for Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV).
The Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Board, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, disclosed this during the official flag-off of the exercise at Bayan Fada Primary Health Care Centre in Bauchi metropolis.
According to him, about 1.7 million doses of the vaccine have been distributed across the state to support the campaign, which is being implemented simultaneously in all 20 local government areas.
Mohammed explained that trained vaccination teams have been deployed for a house-to-house outreach to ensure that no eligible child is left behind in the exercise.
He added that the integrated immunisation campaign is designed to reach children aged 0 to 59 months with the Oral Polio Vaccine, while children between one and 59 months will also receive Azithromycin to help protect them against common life-threatening childhood infections.
“We are optimistic that this round of the campaign will significantly reduce the number of zero-dose children in Bauchi State,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chief of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, raised concern over missed opportunities in previous rounds, noting that more than 2,000 children were not vaccinated due to parental refusal.
She called for stronger community engagement and intensified awareness campaigns to address vaccine hesitancy and ensure wider acceptance of immunisation services.