Gombe State Launches Diphtheria Vaccination Campaign

The Gombe State Government has launched an emergency vaccination campaign in response to 332 recorded cases of diphtheria in the local government areas of Akko, Gombe, Kwami, and Funakaye. The campaign, coordinated by the Gombe State Ministry of Education, will take place from September 20 to 24, 2026.

School principals have been instructed to collaborate with health officials during the vaccination exercise. The immunization program consists of three doses: the second dose will be administered 14 days after the first, and the third dose will follow seven days later.

Additionally, school principals are tasked with educating students, parents, Parent-Teacher Associations, and School-Based Management Committees about the vaccination initiative. They are also required to facilitate access for authorized health workers to vaccinate students and support measures to halt the disease's spread.

Diphtheria, a highly contagious bacterial infection, spreads through respiratory droplets and close contact with infected individuals.