Parents and caregivers have been assured that all vaccines are free, safe, effective, and fully funded by the government.
By TheInvestigator
The Cross River State Government has announced the commencement of a statewide Measles-Rubella and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign scheduled to run from Wednesday, February 4 to Sunday, February 15, 2026.
The announcement was made by the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency (CRSPHCDA) in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health and development partners. According to the agency, the exercise targets children aged 9 months to 14 years for the Measles-Rubella vaccine, adolescent girls aged 9 years for the HPV vaccine, and children aged 0-23 months for routine immunisation across the state’s 18 local government areas.
In a notification signed by the Director General of CRSPHCDA, Dr Vivien Mesembe Otu, the agency emphasised that vaccines remain a critical shield of protection from birth, noting that measles and rubella can lead to severe fever, blindness, miscarriage in pregnant women, and even death. The HPV vaccine, she added, is essential in preventing cervical cancer among young girls.
The vaccination exercise will be conducted at health facilities, schools, churches, mosques, markets, motor parks, shopping malls, recreational centres, palaces, and other public places where eligible children can be found. Health workers will also continue routine immunisation services after the campaign at designated posts across communities.
Parents and caregivers have been assured that all vaccines are free, safe, effective, and fully funded by the government. The agency stated that vaccination teams will work closely with local health authorities and educational stakeholders to ensure a smooth, respectful, and child-friendly process.
The state government urged parents and guardians not to delay participation in the campaign, stressing that no child should be left behind in the fight against vaccine-preventable diseases.