Nigeria’s immunization coverage remains critically low, with Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF, reporting that at least 6.2 million children have missed all their vaccines in the past five years, according to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, MICs.
The MSF Head of Mission in Nigeria, Dr Ahmad Bilal, made the observations in a statement, noting that Nigeria is still far from achieving the 95 percent vaccine coverage rate recommended by international health authorities.
The statement read, ” In 2024, in Nigeria, MSF treated over 17,000 cases of measles, which, if left untreated can cause pneumonia, brain damage or in some severe cases. The joint MSF and Ministry of Health campaign targets children under five years, using the measles vaccine and the Penta-5 vaccine, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B, whooping cough, and Haemophilus Influenzae Type B.
”MSF is also conducting catch-up vaccines for children who may have missed their recommended doses of vaccines for polio, rotavirus and tuberculosis, among others”
The campaign is underway in Sokoto North, Sokoto South, Wamako, and Dange Shuni Local Government Areas (LGAs). Additionally, there are catch-up routine vaccinations taking place at four facilities in rural communities of Wamako, and five facilities each in Dange Shuni and Bodinga LGAs.
The statement noted that in the first round of the vaccination exercise that started in early November 2024, 53,095 children were vaccinated across six local government areas in Sokoto State.
Among these, 33,617 children, around 63 percent, had not received any vaccine doses prior to this campaign, Bilal noted.
He advised community members in Sokoto to participate in a vaccination campaign that will help reduce the number of children suffering from potentially fatal diseases including measles and diphtheria.
He said the MSF is committed to supporting state governments in the Northwest to ensure that every child is vaccinated to attain their full potential.
“We are committed to collaborating with the government to ensure every child is vaccinated against these deadly diseases,” says Dr Ahmad Bilal, MSF Head of Mission in Nigeria.