The Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ASPHCDA) has extended its Integrated Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination exercise by three days due to a shortage of vaccines and to mop up schools that initially resisted participation.

State Health Educator, Uju Onwuegbuzina, told The Guardian that the exercise, which began on February 4, 2026, initially ran until February 13, with a two-day mop-up on February 14 and 15. However, the state did not receive sufficient doses to cover the entire target population.

“The shortfall was supplied on February 21, and we are now conducting a three-day mop-up, revisiting schools where vaccinators met resistance,” she said.

Onwuegbuzina explained that pockets of hesitancy occurred mainly in private and mission schools due to rumours circulating on social media. After sustained engagement with school authorities and parents, all affected schools have now agreed to participate.

“When we issued letters, schools requested parental consent. We engaged private, Anglican, and Catholic mission schools. Anglican schools complied quickly, but there was initial hesitancy in Catholic schools. We worked closely with Diocesan Education Secretaries to resolve these issues,” she said.

She added that the state aims to reach at least 95 percent of the target population. “Many of the schools that initially rejected the vaccine are now requesting vaccinations for their children. During the earlier mop-up, some were on mid-term break, but they have now resumed school,” she said.

Onwuegbuzina stressed the importance of immunisation as a right for every child. “Vaccinating all eligible children ensures herd immunity. Rubella, in particular, is dangerous; pregnant women can transmit it to the unborn child, leading to brain damage, deafness, or heart defects. This is why full coverage is critical,” she said.

The success of the campaign, she added, is due to collaboration between the state government, community gatekeepers, opinion leaders, and the Ministry of Education, as most eligible children were found in schools.

Also speaking with The Guardian, State Immunisation Officer, Edith Onwuka, revealed that the first batch of 3,250,293 vaccine doses reached 2,819,403 children by day nine, representing 86 percent coverage.

“Midway through the exercise, we ran out of vaccines, but an additional 58,940 doses were received from the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency on Saturday,” she said, describing the campaign as the most successful vaccination exercise ever in the state, given the high acceptance rates.

Onwuka added that remaining non-compliance due to parental consent has been resolved. “We are revisiting schools we have not yet covered and expect to end the campaign on Thursday, achieving at least 95 percent coverage of the targeted population,” she said.