Health & Wellness

National Vaccination Drive Launched: 106 Million Children Targeted in Largest Immunisation Campaign.

Abuja — The Federal Government yesterday flagged off a nationwide integrated vaccination campaign aimed at immunising 106 million children against measles, rubella and polio — the largest single-round vaccination effort ever undertaken in the country’s public-health history.

Speaking at the official launch in Abuja, the Minister of Health, Dr. Ali Pate, said the five-day campaign, which begins today in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, will deploy 2.3 million health-workers, including community vaccinators, nurses, pharmacists, lab scientists and supervisors.

“The goal is simple but ambitious: reach every child aged 0–59 months, wherever they are — in cities, on riverine islands, in nomadic camps — and offer them safe, effective vaccines against three deadly but preventable diseases,” Dr. Pate told reporters at the Idu Cold-Chain Depot.

Scale and Resources

According to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), 212 million doses of measles-rubella (MR) and novel oral polio vaccine (nOPV2) have been imported, cleared and distributed to 4 683 local government depots. The campaign is co-funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; the World Health Organization (WHO); Rotary International; UNICEF; and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Logistics, security and operational costs of ₦17.4 billion have been approved by the Federal Executive Council, with an additional ₦3.2 billion released by state governments for social mobilisation and data management.

Cold-Chain Assurance

NPHCDA Executive Director Dr. Faisal Shuaib said more than 19 000 solar-powered cold-chain points have been activated to keep vaccines within the required 2–8 °C range. Over 60 000 vaccine carriers, 8 000 cold boxes and 42 refrigerated trucks are rotating supplies round the clock.

“We have conducted pre-campaign temperature mapping and installed backup generators where solar grids are unstable. Our target is zero vaccine wastage from heat exposure,” Dr. Shuaib stated.

Workforce Deployment

Each ward will be served by a minimum of three vaccination teams, with hard-to-reach settlements receiving mobile teams equipped with motorcycles, boats or camels depending on terrain. All 2.3 million personnel underwent refresher training between 1 and 5 October and have been kitted with identification tags, digitised tally sheets and adverse-event reporting forms.

Security Arrangements

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed state commands to provide armed escorts for teams in 96 local government areas with security challenges. In the North-East, vaccination will be synchronised with military clearances, while in the Niger Delta, naval boats will convey staff to riverine communities.

Expected Outcomes

Federal health officials estimate the campaign could avert:
- 42 000 measles-related deaths over the next three years;
- 15 000 cases of congenital rubella syndrome; and
- Permanent paralysis in 5 000 children who would otherwise have contracted wild or circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus.

Monitoring and Evaluation

An independent monitoring consortium led by WHO will conduct real-time post-campaign coverage surveys. Preliminary results are expected within 21 days, with final validation by December.

Call for Public Support

Dr. Pate urged parents and guardians to present children at designated health facilities, schools, markets and temporary posts. “Vaccination is free, safe and your child’s right. Let us collectively halt the needless suffering caused by vaccine-preventable diseases,” he said.

Campaign teams will operate daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Friday. Hotlines 0800-222-111 (toll-free) and 0913-591-0104 have been activated for inquiries and adverse-event reporting.

This has been The Red Hot Report from Pepper-Room. The news that bears it all.