Officials warn of rising rubella cases and lifelong risks as state shifts from outbreak response to prevention
By Bunmi Yekini
The Lagos State Government has launched a statewide rollout of the Measles–Rubella (MR) vaccine, targeting more than 10 million children in what health officials describe as a critical step to prevent outbreaks and protect against lifelong disabilities linked to the diseases.
At the official flag-off on January 27, 2026, Lagos First Lady Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu said the introduction of the combined vaccine reflects the administration’s focus on strengthening primary healthcare and improving child survival outcomes.
Represented at the event, she said investments in the health sector, particularly at the primary care level, are beginning to yield gains in maternal and child health, with the MR vaccine seen as a “timely intervention” to eliminate measles and rubella.
Health authorities say the campaign marks a significant policy shift: from responding to outbreaks to preventing them before they occur.
“This is not just another vaccine introduction,” said Rashida Sanni-Afolabi, a health education and promotion officer in Ikeja Local Government. “We are now including rubella in measles vaccination, and we are vaccinating all eligible children from nine months up to 14 years, irrespective of their previous immunisation status.”
The expanded age range is designed to close immunity gaps built up over time, particularly among older children who may have missed routine doses. Lagos is aiming to reach between 85% and 90% of eligible children, roughly 10.5 million, to achieve herd immunity and significantly reduce transmission.
Unlike routine immunisation schedules, the campaign is being delivered through a mix of temporary and fixed vaccination posts. Health workers are stationed at schools, markets, religious centres and other high-traffic locations, while primary health centres and general hospitals continue to provide access for walk-in vaccinations.
“We are moving across communities, urban, semi-urban and hard-to-reach areas,” Sanni-Afolabi said. “The strategy is to meet people where they are and ensure no child is left behind.”
According to Sanni-Afolabi, the urgency behind the campaign is driven in part by growing concern over rising rubella infections, often misdiagnosed as measles due to similar early symptoms such as fever, rash, cough and red eyes.
While measles is generally more severe and highly contagious, rubella presents a different kind of public health risk, one that is less visible but potentially more devastating.
“Rubella may appear mild, and in some cases people don’t even realise they have it,” Sanni-Afolabi said. “But if a pregnant woman is exposed, especially in early pregnancy, the consequences for the unborn child can be severe.”
Infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, fetal death or congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), a condition associated with irreversible complications including blindness, deafness and heart defects.
Health experts warn that without widespread vaccination, such outcomes remain a persistent risk, particularly in densely populated settings with uneven immunisation coverage.
According to the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, the MR vaccine will be fully integrated into routine immunisation after the mass campaign phase, with doses scheduled at nine months (MR1) and 15 months (MR2).
The move aligns with global health recommendations. The World Health Organization advises countries already administering two doses of measles vaccine to incorporate rubella vaccination as part of efforts to eliminate both diseases.
More than 90 countries, including Australia, Japan and several African nations such as Cabo Verde and Mauritius, have eliminated rubella and CRS following sustained vaccination efforts. However, gaps remain in countries where coverage is inconsistent or populations are large and mobile.
Public health officials in Lagos say the scale of the current campaign reflects both the size of the population and the risks of inaction.
“No child should suffer or die from preventable diseases,” said the state’s Special Adviser on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, noting that the initiative underscores the government’s commitment to strengthening family health and community wellbeing.
For health workers on the ground, the challenge is not only logistical but also behavioural, addressing vaccine hesitancy, correcting misinformation and ensuring parents understand the importance of vaccinating children even if they have previously received routine immunisations.
“The message is prevention,” Sanni-Afolabi said. “We cannot wait for outbreaks. The best protection we can give children is to vaccinate them early and completely.”
As Lagos pushes to reach millions within a limited window, officials say the success of the campaign will depend not only on government efforts but also on public trust and the willingness of families to embrace a vaccine that could prevent a lifetime of consequences.