Nearly two-thirds (64%) of children aged 12 to 23 months in Nigeria have not received all the recommended vaccines from the National Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) over the past five years, according to the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) and National Immunization Coverage Survey (NICS).
This concerning trend increases the risk of outbreaks and child mortality caused by preventable diseases.
Immunization is a highly cost-effective method for controlling and eliminating life-threatening infectious diseases, preventing approximately three million deaths annually. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes routine immunization (RI) for all children and appropriate vaccination throughout their lives as essential measures to combat vaccine-preventable diseases.
Nigeria currently provides vaccines for routine childhood immunization, protecting children against diseases such as tuberculosis, hepatitis B, polio, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, Haemophilus influenza type b, pneumococcal disease, rotavirus, measles, yellow fever, and meningitis.
To address these challenges, the Nigerian government, in collaboration with WHO and with funding from organizations like GAVI and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), has been implementing free routine immunization programs across public health facilities in the country. For example, at Kuje General Hospital in Abuja, the immunization clinic operates throughout the weekdays, offering all the recommended vaccines for children under two years of age.
Caregivers like Mrs. Edna Lawrence recognize the importance of vaccination in keeping their children safe from various diseases. Mrs. Lawrence ensures her 9-month-old daughter, Ose, never misses her vaccination schedules and brings her to the clinic for measles, yellow fever, and vitamin A antigens.
The RI program aims to provide caregivers with the opportunity to bring their children to the nearest health facility for scheduled childhood vaccines from birth to the age of two. However, despite these efforts, a significant number of children in Nigeria remain either unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated due to factors such as fear of side effects, lack of knowledge or information, service delivery issues, mistrust, and distance to immunization sites.
For instance, Mrs. Seifa Adams initially considered skipping her first child's second round of vaccines based on incorrect advice from a neighbor. Fortunately, Mrs. Adams followed the advice of health workers during antenatal and immunization services and ensured her children received all the necessary vaccines. Health workers play a crucial role in providing health talks to pregnant women and caregivers to prevent misinformation and missed vaccination cases.
To address these challenges, health facilities like Kuje General Hospital keep immunization records and actively follow up with caregivers when children miss their vaccination schedules. In cases where financial constraints, work commitments, or travel hinder attendance, health workers make efforts to reach out to the families and administer the vaccines.
Parents like Mr. Olajide Adiodun, a businessman, prioritize their children's immunizations and accompany their spouses to the clinic. Mr. Adiodun acknowledges that ensuring all children are fully vaccinated is a shared responsibility among parents, health workers, and society as a whole. He appreciates the government, WHO, and other partners for providing free vaccines, relieving financial burdens and ensuring access to life-saving services for all.
As WHO celebrates its 75th anniversary in advancing public health, identifying gaps in vaccine access and uptake, understanding the reasons behind these gaps, and implementing measures to address them are crucial for achieving health equity.
The WHO Country Representative, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, emphasizes the importance of vaccination and pledges continued technical support to the Nigerian government to ensure comprehensive vaccination efforts and equitable access to vaccines.
Vaccination should remain a top priority on the national agenda as part of broader efforts to revitalize primary healthcare and achieve universal health coverage.
WHO also provides technical support to introduce new vaccines and implement strategies to strengthen immunization and primary healthcare, such as the optimized outreach strategy and the intensification of routine immunization.
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