By Sarah Sam Adda
Some Fulani residents in Kogi State are rejecting the ongoing Measles, Polio, and HPV vaccination campaign, threatening the state’s target coverage.
During a monitoring visit to Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, compliance among indigenous residents was high, but Fulani communities resisted the exercise.
Local Immunisation Officer, Atyodele Raphael, said the refusal is hindering efforts to vaccinate 66,000 children, as many women insist on waiting for their husbands’ consent.
He said sensitization efforts are being intensified to boost acceptance before the campaign ends.
Governor Usman Ododo, who launched the statewide campaign in Lokoja, described it as crucial to eradicating vaccine-preventable diseases and protecting girls from cervical cancer.
He urged parents and community leaders to support the free and safe vaccination drive.
The campaign, supported by UNICEF and other partners, targets 1.9 million children aged nine months to 14 years and runs from October 6-15 across the state.
