Bauchi Targets 2.6 Million Children in Polio Vaccination Drive

The Bauchi State Government says it aims to reach about 2.6 million children in the ongoing Supplemental Immunisation Plus Days (SIPDs) campaign for the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV).

The Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, disclosed this during the flag-off of the exercise at Bayan Fada Primary Health Care Centre in Bauchi metropolis.

He said about 1.7 million doses of vaccines have been distributed across the state to support the campaign, which is being carried out simultaneously in all 20 local government areas.

Mohammed explained that trained vaccination teams have been deployed for house-to-house outreach to ensure that every eligible child is reached.

He added that the integrated immunisation exercise targets children aged 0 to 59 months for the polio vaccine, while children between one and 59 months will also receive Azithromycin to help prevent 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, expressed concern over missed vaccination opportunities in previous rounds, noting that over 2,000 children were not immunised due to parental refusal.

She called for stronger community engagement and intensified awareness campaigns to address vaccine hesitancy and improve acceptance of immunisation services across the state.