A Review Of The 2017/2018 National Measles Vaccination Campaign In Delta State, Nigeria (Short Communication)

This review sought to highlight the 2017/2018 Measles Vaccination Campaign implementation process in Delta State, Nigeria. Data on different aspects of the campaign were reviewed and analyzed using simple descriptive statistics. A total of 1, 157 827 eligible children were vaccinated, 1368-member teams were trained to offer vaccination services, 26 (25 minor and I major) adverse events following immunization were recorded and subsequently managed by trained clinicians at designated secondary health facilities in the 9 affected local government areas, 17,948 safety boxes were generated, stored and incinerated at the Ibuzor industrial waste plant near the state capital. While 2.59% and 18.02 % of all vaccinated children between the ages of 9 and11 months had received a first measles dose and other doses, 2.08% and 77.32% of all children between the ages of 12-59 months had received the first dose and other doses respectively. The state vaccine wastage rate was 12.2%. At the end of the campaign, the state recorded administrative measles coverage of 106.5% while the National Bureau of Statistics in conjunction with partners reported a post campaign coverage of 93.8%. The measles vaccination campaign for controlling measles in Delta State which targeted children between the ages of 9 and 59 months was able to achieve the desired coverage required for herd immunity. Political support from the state government and from relevant line ministries, robust advocacy, communication with electronic and print media, training of teams and sustained social mobilization were veritable tools to the overall success of the measles campaign in Delta State