Nigeria Introduces Rotavirus Vaccines Into Routine Immunisation, The NPHCDA boss noted that the rotavirus vaccine introduction has the potential to avert over 110,000 deaths in 10 years.

Nigeria Introduces Rotavirus Vaccines Into Routine Immunisation

Nigeria Introduces Rotavirus Vaccines, The Nigerian government has introduced the Rotavirus vaccine into the existing c. The development, the government noted, is aimed at reducing the fatalities from diarrhoea caused by the virus. The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib, disclosed this Monday during the National flag-off of the vaccine at the Area 2 Primary Health Care (PHC) Clinic, Garki, Abuja. He noted that the rotavirus vaccine introduction has the potential to avert over 110,000 deaths in 10 years. He said: “Introduction of the Rotavirus vaccine is a big investment due to its substantial economic impact and the number of lives that the country is going to save from the introduction. “It is projected that while reducing the associated morbidity and mortality from the rotavirus infections, the rotavirus vaccine introduction has the potential to avert over 110,000 deaths over a 10-year period.”

Nigeria Introduces Rotavirus Vaccines, The vaccine launch coincides with the commemoration of the African Vaccination Week, “a weeklong affair that improves access to basic PHC services, routine immunisation, COVID-19 vaccination, deworming, Vitamin A supplementation, and medical outreach services to our teeming rural populations.” Speaking further, Mr Shuaib explained that as the leading cause of diarrheal disease in the world, Rotavirus is responsible for over 40 per cent of diarrhoea in children and that Nigeria has the second highest number of deaths from the virus. He explained further that Rotavirus ” is the most frequent cause of severe diarrhoea, accounting for about 215,000 of the global 525,000 under-5 mortality attributed to diarrheal diseases each year. He said: “Nigeria has the second highest number of deaths from rotavirus, accounting for 14% of all childhood rotavirus deaths worldwide. “Annually, approximately 50,000 deaths occur in children under 5 years in Nigeria as a result of rotavirus infection.” The NPHCDA boss also noted that the vaccine is going to be given orally and administered concurrently with the existing RI vaccines at six weeks, 10 weeks and 14 weeks respectively. He added that the vaccine will be integrated with other diarrheal preventive strategies.

Nigeria Introduces Rotavirus Vaccines, He mentioned the strategies to include: exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life, Vitamin A supplementation, handwashing, sanitation, and other key household practices. Mr Shuaib also mentioned case management including the use of zinc- ORS to prevent dehydration, continued feeding, and treatment services for diarrhoea and other childhood diseases. The NPHCDA boss further noted that the vaccine is free, urging parents to take their eligible children for vaccination. He said: “I urge our parents and caregivers to take their eligible children to the nearest Primary Health Care Centre for this important vaccine and other routine vaccines that are in the system until their children are fully vaccinated. “Rotavirus vaccine is free, safe and effective at preventing diarrheal disease caused by the Rotavirus.”

Source: This news is originally published by allafrica

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