Based on figures from the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey/National Immunization Coverage Survey (MICS/NICS), there are approximately 36 million children under the age of five in Nigeria. While Nigeria has made progress in some child health-related indicators, such as reducing the under-five mortality rate from 182 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000 to 111 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2021, additional efforts will be needed for the country to meet most of the child-related Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators by 2030. Chief of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Field Office, South-West Nigeria, Celine Lafoucriere, who disclosed this at a media dialogue on routine immunization, on Wednesday in Lagos, said vaccine remains essential to children’s health, as it is a fundamental human right.
Lafoucriere decried that about 2.3 million Nigerian children have not received a single dose of vaccine, while calling on stakeholders to bridge the gap. Social and behaviour change specialist, UNICEF, Aderonke Akinola-Akinwole, listed the challenges fuelling zero-dose children in Nigeria, as inadequate health facilities; long travel time to access available facilities; security compromised areas;Japa syndrome which has led to increasing workload for health workers; Low funding commitment for Routine Immunization services; inadequate information about RI; low community participation and an overwhelming rise in misinformation and vaccine hesitancy.
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