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Nigeria Had Four Years of Stagnant Immunization Rates

• By Rich Health News Desk
• October 22, 2024

World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF data show that Nigeria's immunization rates have not increased over the last four years when compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, depriving many children of vital protection. 

 

According to trends in vaccination rates since 2020, just 12% to 74% of the 15 vaccinations included in the national immunization schedule have reached 90% coverage. 

 

In 2023, vaccination rates varied from 38% to 74%, even with the introduction of RotaC, a new vaccine that was launched in 2022 and achieved 49% coverage in 2023. 

 

"The most recent patterns show that a lot of nations still miss out on far too many children," stated UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. 

 

"To ensure that every child receives vaccinations and that overall healthcare is strengthened, closing the immunization gap requires a global effort involving governments, partners, and local leaders investing in primary healthcare and community workers," Russell continued. 

 

DTP3 

The results show that the number of children who received three doses of the DTP3 vaccination in 2023—a crucial indicator of the worldwide immunization coverage—stalled at 62%. 

 

This level was seven percentage points below the WCAR country average of 69% and 22% points below the worldwide average of 84 percent. 

 

Nigeria's nationwide DTP3 coverage decreased to 66% in 2019, a four percentage point decrease from 2019. This corresponds to a 3% drop in the quantity of kids receiving the DTP3 vaccination.

 

Nigeria was among the top 10 countries with the highest percentage of under-vaccinated children in 2023 and placed fourth out of 24 countries with the lowest DTP3 coverage. 

 

100,000 fewer children received vaccinations in 2023 than in 2019, despite the fact that there were 300,000 more surviving infants overall, an increase in survival rates of almost 4%. The WHO and UNICEF recommend that in order for vaccine coverage to rise, the number of vaccinated children needs to rise more quickly than the rate at which the population grows.

 

Nigeria's Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, stated that the country's healthcare system was being reformed in accordance with the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Programme. 

 

In order to improve population health outcomes overall, he said the focus was on boosting routine immunization and lowering the proportion of zero-dose children through engagement with state governments, including traditional leaders. 

 

As required by Nigeria's federal structure, we will collaborate to improve accountability and transparency, fortify governance, and handle fiscal decentralization. In a statement on Tuesday about Nigeria's partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance team, he said, "Most importantly, we will intentionally enlist the active involvement of our citizens in decision-making and implementation processes to ensure that the healthcare system is reflective of and responsive to the needs of the population." 

 

HPV 

In 2023, 27% of girls participated in the first dose (HPV1) program, and 27% participated in the last dose (HPVc) program. 

 

Rates of Dropout

A quarter of children who received DTP1 in 2023 did not receive MCV1, and 11% of children who received DTP1 did not receive DTP3.

 

The paper states that the high DTP dropout rates indicate a poor ability to administer a full course of immunizations early in life. The high DTP-MCV drop-out rates suggest that immunization programs are not being well-retained and that infants may not receive all recommended vaccinations (up to one year).