Aibinuomo, who said the vulnerable groups deemed to be eligible for the immunisation ranged between nine months and 44 years, said, “We are embarking on a serious campaign.

We are expecting 85 per cent of the population of Ekiti State to be vaccinated to protect them from yellow fever.”

The WHO official, who spoke in Ado Ekiti during a meeting with stakeholders on the implementation of the yellow fever campaign in Ekiti State, said the introduction of the intra-muscular vaccination became expedient following 24 suspected cases recorded in the state last year.

He said, “We have 24 suspected cases in Ekiti between 2018 and 2019. We have met with traditional, religious and educational institutions to partner us in order to spread the anti-yellow fever message across the 177 wards in the state.

“Although there may not be any suspected case in 2020, we have to take proactive measures, because of migration across the states.”

Stressing the need for residents, whose ages are between nine months and 44 years, to come for the vaccination, Aibinuomo said, “The injection has no adverse effect. It is free and can be taken by anybody except those with immuno-compromised cases like HIV and pregnant persons.”

He added that to aid sensitisation campaign across the state, about 177 mobilisers sponsored by the state government and 85 town announcers have been hired to complement the awareness being produced by traditional media.

He said, “It is not oral innoculation, but an injectable vaccine. Let us protect ourselves from this deadly virus. We have lost precious ones to yellow fever and even simple measles, so there is a need for us to take caution.”

source: Punch