Nigeria leads the world in unvaccinated children; millions at risk

Nigeria has the highest number of children who have not received any doses of a specific vaccine recommended for their age group or population.

The “zero-dose” children are vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases because they lack the protection provided by vaccination. They are measured by the number of children who have not received the first dose of Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis vaccine.

By 2020, there were more than 12.4 million children who received none of those vaccines, mostly in lower and middle-income countries, according to the World Health Organization. Of that number, 2.2 million were in Nigeria.

Currently, there are no fewer than 19 million zero-dose children worldwide, and 58 percent of which live in just 10 countries, according to Hadley Ikwe, senior immunisation specialist, Global Immunisation Division at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

With 2.3 million zero-dose children, Nigeria accounts for the highest burden globally. Only about 57 percent of eligible children in Nigeria were fully vaccinated as of 2021.

“Four African countries make up 4.4 million zero children,” Dr Ikwe said in Abuja on Wednesday, according to the News Agency of Nigeria. “The COVID-19 pandemic led to large global increases in zero-dose children.”

He said that zero-dose children were susceptible to many diseases and that the introduction and spread of disease within a community could cause epidemics of vaccine-preventable diseases.

U.S. offers help

Patricia Tanifum, global immunisation division programme director at the U.S CDC, who also spoke, said the United States was committed to reaching the children who received no immunization.

Dr Tanifum said this commitment comes as part of ongoing efforts to reduce child mortality rates and ensure a healthier future for Nigerian children.

She emphasised the importance of immunisation in safeguarding children’s health and well-being.

“Immunisation is a fundamental right of every child, and we are fully committed to ensuring that no child in Nigeria is left behind when it comes to life-saving vaccines,” she said.

“This vulnerable group is at a higher risk of contracting preventable diseases, which can have severe consequences for their health and overall development.”

The U.S. government pledged to provide substantial technical support to Nigeria’s immunisation programmes.

“The assistance will continue to focus on strengthening the country’s healthcare infrastructure, training healthcare workers, and improving vaccine distribution systems to ensure that vaccines reach even the most remote areas,” she said.

Dr Ikwe said the U.S. government had continued to support the government of Nigeria to reduce childhood illnesses and deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases in the country.

“We are working with partners to eradicate all forms of polioviruses in Nigeria, increase routine immunisation coverage in Nigeria to 90 per cent by 2028 and reduce zero-dose children in consequential geographies.

“Also, integrate immunisation investments with other Primary Health Care services towards strengthening the health system,” he said.