By Hassan Zaggi and Daniel Tyokua
The World Health Organization (WHO) has concluded plans to vaccinate an estimated 33 million African children against vaccine -preventable diseases.
WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr Walter Mulombo, disclosed this during a media briefing to mark Africa vaccination week in Abuja, on Tuesday.
According to him, the number of children will be vaccinated between 2023 and 2025 to put the continent back on track to achieve the 2030 global immunization goals which will reduce morbidity and mortality.
Mulombo noted that in the Africa Region, WHO estimates show that the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on routine immunization services has driven up the number of zero-dose and under-immunized children, rising by 16% between 2019 and 2021 and pushing the cumulative total (2019–2021) to around 33 million, which represents nearly half the global estimate.
He said: “An estimated 33 million children will need to be vaccinated in Africa between 2023 and 2025 to put the continent back on track to achieve the 2030 global immunization goals that include reducing morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases.
“In Nigeria, WHO estimates in 2019 to 2021, 6.2million children are zero dose; a consequence of the negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic”
Mulombo emphasized the need for intensified efforts by government and partners to do more for Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs).
“Reaching these children would require renewed and intensified efforts by Government and partners. To galvanize the commitments required, WHO conducted a high-level event during the African Union (AU) Summit in February 2023, where African heads of state endorsed a declaration aimed at revamping and scaling up routine immunization across the continent and implementing urgent measures to address persistent bottlenecks in vaccine and health care delivery systems
“This year African Vaccination Week and World Immunization Week, from 24–30 April, with the theme “The Big Catch-Up” is a global push by WHO and partners to intensify efforts to reach children who missed vaccinations, as well as to restore and strengthen routine immunization programmes.
“The Big Catch Up” is actually a year-long campaign aiming to reverse the serious setbacks in routine immunization.
“83% reduction in circulating Variant Polio Virus type 2. A significant feat in sustaining certification for the eradication Wild Polio Virus in Nigeria.
“The pro-activeness of the Government of Nigeria and the National Primary Health Care Agency for implementing the Optimized Outreach Sessions, integration of Routine Immunization during COVID-19 vaccination, Measles and Yellow Fever Supplementary Immunization Activities. These are key for the reduction in the high burden of zero dose children in Nigeria and aligns the theme for the 2023 AVW celebration.
“The plan to introduce malaria vaccine in routine immunization, and Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV) in 2023 and 2024 are commendable as it aligns with establishing a life-course platform for immunization for optimum dividend from vaccination”
He encouraged community leaders to take responsibility to organize and participate fully in the conduct of immunization sessions including monitoring uptake of vaccines in the community.
“WHO since 2015 issued revised immunization scheduled to support the “Big Catch-up” where children who have missed being vaccinated can be safely vaccinated with appropriate vaccines. This is part of over 15 guidelines and strategies issued to countries including Nigeria.
“Supporting the NPHCDA engagement with 36 states and the FCT to develop tailored strategies to reach zero dose and unimmunized children
“WHO has prioritize technical support for Zero Dose agenda and the Big Catch-up” in all state and LGAs”
