As part of efforts to reduce the mortality and morbidity caused by rotavirus infections across the country, the Federal Government yesterday officially introduced the rotavirus vaccine into its routine immunisation programme.
While stating that children can now take the rotavirus vaccine at 6, 10 and 14 weeks as they take other life-saving vaccines, it noted that the vaccine is of great importance because it is expected to avert over 110,000 deaths of children under the age of five in the next 10 years.
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, who was represented by the Director of Public Health, Morenikeji Alex-Okoh, made this known in Abuja during the launch of the vaccine and flag-off of this year’s African Vaccination Week.
He said: “The government, with the support of our donors and partners, especially GAVI has spent huge amounts to procure routine immunisation vaccines for children. This is because; improving the health of our children remains a priority for this administration.
The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) Dr Faisal Shuaib, said: “Nigeria has the second highest number of deaths from rotavirus, accounting for 14 per cent of all childhood rotavirus deaths worldwide.
Introduction of the rotavirus vaccine is a huge investment due to its substantial economic impact and number of lives that the country is going to save from the introduction.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative, Dr Walter Mulombo said: “The introduction of the Rotavirus Vaccine provides the opportunity to reduce the number of children dying every day from diarrhoea disease caused by rotavirus. The public health impact of rotavirus vaccine introduction has been demonstrated in several countries with as much as 50 per cent deaths from diarrhoeal diseases averted in some.”