TheCable

The federal government has introduced the rotavirus vaccine to protect children against diarrhoea infections.

According to NAN, Faisal Shuaib, executive director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, (NPHCDA), flagged off the vaccination on Monday in Abuja.

Rotavirus is a gastrointestinal disease of the stomach and intestine that causes severe vomiting, fever and abdominal pain among infants and young children.

Shuaib said the rotavirus disease has caused the death of about 50,000 children annually in Nigeria.

He said the virus is one of the leading causes of death among children globally, adding that about 215,000 of the 525,000 under-five mortality is caused by diarrheal infections.

Shuaib said the vaccine will help to reduce the number of children dying from diarrhoea infections.

“Nigeria has the second highest number of deaths from rotavirus, accounting for 14 percent of all childhood rotavirus deaths worldwide,” he said.

“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 10 years.

“This vaccine is going to be given orally and will be administered concurrently with the existing Routine Immunization (RI) vaccines at six weeks, 10 weeks and 14 weeks respectively.

“The vaccine will be integrated with other diarrheal preventive strategies, such as exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life, Vitamin A supplementation, handwashing and sanitation.

“And other key household practices, case management including the use of zinc- ORS to prevent dehydration, continued feeding, and treatment services for diarrhoea and other childhood diseases.”

He urged parents and caregivers to take advantage of the opportunity and ensure children are properly vaccinated against rotavirus and other deadly infections.