Jide Idris, commissioner for health in the Nigerian state, while flagging off the program, said objective of the immunization exercise was to reduce childhood mortality and morbidity from measles, a vaccine preventable disease, among children aged nine months to 59 months.The vaccination exercise, which will be rounded off on Feb. 1, is the second phase of a nationwide measles campaign aimed at reducing any build up of susceptibles born since the previous supplemental immunization activities.

Idris said at least 95 percent of eligible children with measles antigens, irrespective of their previous immunizations status, will be immunized. Measles vaccine is safe for all children, even if the child has any common illness including undernourishment, malaria or diarrhea. According to the World Health Organization, measles vaccination prevented an estimated 17.1 million deaths between 2000 and 2014, making measles vaccine one of the best buys in public health. The government in Lagos State said it has made provision of 521 fixed