As part of effort towards eliminating Yellow Fever epidemics in Nigeria. The Rivers state government through its primary healthcare board said it would officially commence Yellow Fever Mass Vaccination Campaign in the state from 14th - 23rd February.
At a one day workshop with media practitioners and other relevant stakeholders, permanent secretary of the state primary healthcare board Dr. Henry Agiriye said the preventive vaccination campaign is aimed to protect people and an important step towards protecting against yellow fever outbreaks across the country which is part of the global strategy to Eliminate Yellow Fever Epidemics (EYE) by 2026.
Dr. Agiriye urged traditional, religious leaders and residents in Rivers state to continue their good work of engaging with their communities to guide against vaccine refusal as the government is committed to strengthening the health system and improving both preventive and curative health care in the state
Also speaking representative of WHO, Dr. Leonard Ughaghile said Nigeria is a high priority country for the Eliminate Yellow Fever Epidemics (EYE) Strategy and it is expected that more than 75 million people will be protected against yellow fever in the country by the end of 2021.
He said Yellow Fever can be prevented and the most cost-effective means is by taking a single dose of yellow fever vaccine.
Infants from 0 to 9 months to adults aged 44 years are eligible for this vaccination.
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease spread to humans through bites of infected mosquitoes. The "yellow" in the name refers to jaundice that affects some patients. Symptoms of yellow fever include fever, headache, jaundice, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.
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