TEXT OF THE PRESS BRIEFING BY HIS EXCELLENCY, SENATOR UBA SANI, GOVERNOR OF KADUNA STATE ON THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF IMMUNIZATION CAMPAIGN FOR PREVENTION OF “INTEGRATED FRACTIONAL INACTIVATED POLIO VIRUS VACCINE (FIPV)” IN KADUNA STATE.
Earlier today, I held a press briefing to sensitize citizens of Kaduna State and to formally launch a Statewide Immunization Campaign for the Prevention of the Integrated Fractional Inactivated PolioVirus Vaccine (FIPV).
Polio virus infection is a devastating disease that causes severe illness leading to the loss of one or more limbs, while leaving the child with a lifelong complication, and limiting opportunities and/or diminishes the chances of a child reaching his/her full potential in life. Risks of getting infected with this viral disease are highest for those people unvaccinated against polio, young children, immunosuppressed people, those people living or traveling in areas where polio is endemic, especially where sanitation is poor or open defecation abounds.
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) will commence the First Phase of the Integrated Fractional Inactivated Polio Virus Vaccine (fIPV), Novel Oral Polio Vaccine (+nOPV) Campaign in Kaduna State (among other states and FCT) from Saturday 29th of July to 4th of August 2023. The LGAs targeted for the Phase 1 Campaign in Kaduna State are; Birnin Gwari, Chikun, Kaduna North, Kajuru, Kudan, Kubau, Makarfi, Ikara, Lere, Kagarko, Sanga, and Zangon Kataf LGAs.
Phase 2 of the campaign will commence from 7th to 13th of August 2023 in the following LGAs: Kaduna South, Igabi, Kachia, Giwa, Soba, Zaria, Sabon Gari, Kauru, Jaba, Jemaa and Kaura LGAs. The reasons for staggering the campaign in phases (1 and 2) is to ensure quality campaign and proactively address any real or apparent challenges in the areas of human resource for health and Cold Chain Equipment gaps especially in vaccine carriers and ice packs. Kaduna state would use 2,171 teams and each team would have 14 members.
The vaccine to be administered is not a new vaccine. It is the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) that is given according to the National Immunization schedule at 6 and 14 weeks. The difference is the route of administration. Children from 6 weeks to 59 months will be given a fraction of the normal dose Intradermally (i.e inside the skin), hence the term fractional IPV (fIPV), as against the usual Intramuscular route (that is inside the muscle). Children from birth to 59 months will also be given the Novel Oral Polio Vaccine(nOPV).
We are fully prepared and committed to the exercise. With the support of our partners we shall have a quality fIPV campaign that will surpass the last fIPV campaign conducted in 2014. I assure citizens of Kaduna State that the vaccines are safe. Other routine vaccines against the common childhood killer diseases like Meningitis, TB, Hepatitis B and Measles will also be given at the vaccination booths for children that are due, or missed, or those that had opportunity for routine vaccination.
I call on my fellow political leaders, religious and traditional leaders, and people of influence in homes and communities to make concerted efforts to ensure that all eligible children are immunized with all necessary antigens, as it is their right, and duty.
Finally, let me appreciate our partners, and all stakeholders for their unflinching support, commitment, and contributions towards ensuring that our children are immunized and healthy. The media is critical to the utilization of health interventions. We would continue to count on them to sensitize our people on the value and benefits of immunization and other health related issues.
Senator Uba Sani,
Governor, Kaduna State.
July 27th, 2023.
