Rubella, also known as German measles, is often mistaken for a mild childhood illness. However, health experts warn that the virus poses a grave danger when contracted by pregnant women, especially in the early stages of pregnancy. With Gombe State among the first to roll it out, Nigeria has introduced the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine into its immunisation schedule to mitigate its risk.
What Is Rubella?
Rubella is a contagious viral infection that typically causes mild fever and rashes in children and adults. In many cases, symptoms are so mild that infected persons may not even realise they have the disease.
According to Abdulkareem Mohammed Aliyu, the State Immunisation Officer at the Gombe State Primary Healthcare Development Agency who spoke to WikkiTimes, rubella becomes extremely dangerous when a woman contracts it during early pregnancy.
“When a pregnant woman gets infected, it can lead to congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) in the baby,” Aliyu explained.
He listed that CRS can result in deafness, blindness, heart defects, including holes in the heart,brain damage, miscarriage or stillbirth
“These are lifelong disabilities that are completely preventable through vaccination,” he added.
What Is the Measles-Rubella (MR) Vaccine?
The MR vaccine is a combined vaccine that protects children against both measles and rubella. While measles is widely known and feared due to past outbreaks, rubella has received less public attention despite its devastating consequences for unborn children.
Health officials say vaccinating children, particularly girls, before they reach child-bearing age is key to preventing rubella-related birth defects.
Nigeria introduced the MR vaccine in phases nationwide. Gombe State participated in Phase 1, Stream 2, which ran from October 18 to 27, 2025.
During this period, a mass vaccination campaign targeted children aged 9 months to 14 years. The vaccine has now been fully integrated into routine immunisation, with the first dose at 9 months and a booster dose at 15 months
In Gombe state, Aliyu noted that The MR vaccine is now available free of charge at more than 550 primary healthcare facilities providing routine immunisation services across the state’s 11 local government areas.
“Parents and caregivers are encouraged to ensure their children receive both doses during routine clinic visits,” he said.
Vaccine Rejection in Gombe
Like many public health interventions, the MR vaccine introduction faced some resistance. Aliyu said most of the rejection occurred in urban private schools, where school authorities claimed they had not received consent from parents.
“After a series of engagements with the schools and parents, the issues were resolved and the children were vaccinated,” he said.
In contrast, acceptance in rural communities was largely positive.
“From our local communities, we didn’t really experience much rejection. People were bringing their children willingly because they already understand measles and the importance of vaccination,” Aliyu noted.
Speaking to some residents within the Gombe metropolis, Iklima Aliyu, a housewife and mother of 5 in the Sudaniyya community said she refused to accept the vaccine because she wasn’t aware of it.
“A lot of women refused to let their children take it here, in fact one man even chased them away. I normally allow my children to take vaccines but only if I take them to the hospital myself, I don’t trust those workers going around,” she said.
Similarly, Hauwa Adamu, a mother of two and vegetable trader said she rejected the vaccine for her kids on her husband’s instructions, adding that she wasn’t aware of the ongoing vaccine exercise as well.
Before the vaccine rollout, Aliyu said Town hall meetings, dialogue sessions, sensitisation visits, and awareness campaigns were held to encourage residents.
“These leaders took the message back to their people in their emirates, districts, villages and wards,” Aliyu said.
The introduction of the MR vaccine aligns with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Nigeria’s national goal to eliminate measles and rubella by 2030.
