At least 64 percent of children between the ages of 12 and 23 months in Nigeria did not receive all recommended vaccinations in the past five years, a new report has shown.
The 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) and National Immunization Coverage Survey (NICS) show that 46% of children were partially vaccinated between 2016 and 2021.
Speaking about the key findings of the survey at a media dialogue in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, UNICEF Head of Monitoring for Results (M4R), Claes Johanson, said that although the country made progress in some sectors, there is a significant gap in routine immunization.
Johanson said that 18 percent of children in Nigeria have not received any of the recommended doses of the vaccine.
It noted that only 36 percent of children aged 12 to 23 months received all recommended vaccinations in Nigeria between 2016 and 2021.
He said the smallest proportion of children who did not receive any vaccinations is in Enugu at one percent and Ebonyi at zero percent, while the highest percentage is in Sokoto at 51 percent.
MICS/NICS
The MICS report provides data on infant mortality, health, nutrition, education, child and social protection, healthcare and women’s empowerment, water, sanitation and hygiene, while the NICS assesses vaccination coverage provided through health systems. .
The survey that was launched on August 16 was conducted by the Office for National Statistics (NBS) in collaboration with UNICEF.
routine immunization
Routine immunization, a process of receiving a vaccine which in turn provides immunity to a disease, is very important as the under-five mortality rate is rising in Nigeria.
The Nigeria Immunization Program recognizes the following for routine immunization of children in Nigeria: BCG (Bacili Calmette Guerin), a vaccine against tuberculosis; OPV (oral polio vaccine), a vaccine against polio; DPT combination vaccine against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus; hepatitis vaccine for hepatitis A and B; measles vaccine; Yellow fever vaccine and supplemental vitamin A.
According to the Federal Ministry of Health, a child is only considered fully vaccinated when he has received the above at the appropriate time.
Despite these existing immunization programs, the number of unvaccinated children in Nigeria remains high in the country due to a variety of demographic factors.
MICS noted that the benefits of vaccines can only be fully realized when children receive all recommended doses on time.
The main causes for this low immunization rate listed in the report include fear of side effects, lack of knowledge or information, service delivery problems, mistrust or fears, and distance to immunization sites, among others. others.