The Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (KWPHCDA) has assured people of Kwara State that the measles immunisation vaccines are safe for children.
The executive secretary of KWPHCDA, Dr Nusirat Elelu, gave the assurance during a stakeholders meeting hosted in Ilorin.
Elelu said the meeting was organised to tackle falsehood and misinformation that continue to trail the routine exercise in the state.
She added that the meeting was called to sensitise and seek assistance of participants in educating the public on the benefit of getting their children vaccinated against diseases, and to start dispelling the rumor on safety of vaccines.
Elelu, who expressed shock at the extent of public misinformation and misconception about the last polio vaccination campaign, said the agency considered it necessary to embark on special public sensitisation before the launch of a measles vaccination campaign soon.
She declared vaccines as safe and effective in preventing diseases and sought the cooperation of parents, caregivers, community and religious heads to help sensitize people around them on the need to avail their children the opportunity to be vaccinated.
She said each stakeholder in attendance has roles to play, such as passing round right information about the vaccination programme, which she explained seeks to protect children specifically against measles.