Nigeria and immunisation: A brief overview

Resistance against the hardships of life defines the people of Africa’s most populous country. One such hardship is that of public health. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the importance of immunisation on a large scale. Despite the developing health sector in Nigeria, over 30 million doses of coronavirus vaccine have been distributed as of 2022. 

However, COVID-19 is but one of several diseases that creates challenges for Nigeria’s healthcare system.  

Immunisation, and especially childhood immunisation, is of particular importance for the nation’s 206 million people. Insurance for the health of the next generation is insurance for the continued growth of Nigeria’s economy and success. In theme with World Immunisation Week, which runs from April 24 – 30th, we’re taking a look at the importance of vaccination, the current state of childhood immunisation, and what can be done to improve it. 

Vaccination has been a vital resource in the fight against global diseases. To continue the metaphor, the best offence is a good defence, which is exactly what immunisation provides. It is a preemptive injection that allows your body to fight against disease, mitigating and often preventing diseases altogether. Through the efforts of international organisations, once terrible diseases like smallpox have been entirely eradicated. 

The state of vaccine hesitancy that is plaguing the global conscious forgets the terrible past of infectious diseases that to this day still pose a threat to people worldwide. If left unchecked, diseases can wreak havoc on communities, as evident by the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the development of modern vaccines, millions suffered unnecessarily. A brief look at the history of Polio highlights this. Despite the disease having a relatively low fatality rate, many were left paralysed and in severe cases, needed assistance from heavy machinery such as the infamous Iron Lung. Thanks to widespread vaccination efforts, Polio and its variants are close to extinct, with only 22 reported cases globally in 2017 (down from over 350 000 in 1988).

Diseases like Polio have no cure; prevention is the only solution available. 

The benefits of vaccination don’t just end with disease prevention. Immunisations reduce the emotional and financial burden diseases have on families and communities. On average, every $1 spent on vaccination efforts reduces later medical costs by $44. When compounded by complex treatments, the amount quickly becomes unaffordable for already impoverished families. 

The World Health Organisation has drawn up evidence-backed estimations on the status of vaccination in Nigeria for a range of diseases such as Measles, Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio, and Pneumonia. On average, the percentage of the population that is vaccinated against these diseases stands at 65%. In comparison to developed nations, this falls short. The UK, Germany and France all maintain a rate over 95%. While sources vary, the global average is around 80%. With specifics to childhood immunisation, over 26% of Nigerian children have received no vaccinations whatsoever, which is a large cause for concern. In addition, around 48% of Nigerian children are only partially vaccinated. Moving forward, this group will be especially susceptible to preventable diseases. This will likely burden communities as well as government resources into the future. 

Nigeria’s low vaccination rates might not be alarming if they were increasing annually, but they have in fact stagnated over the last 15 years. This is likely due to its massive population growth, which has doubled in the last 25 years. 

A significant problem in developing countries like Nigeria is a lack of access to formal healthcare facilities. Without nearby access to clinics or means of affordable transportation, vaccine programs simply can not be carried out effectively. Other steps need to be taken by governing bodies and private organisations to ensure an appropriate level of infrastructure to allow for practical vaccine efforts. A disparity in access to clinics exists even within the borders of Nigeria. There are as many as 13,000 people per clinic in some states, while in the more wealthy provinces, as little as 2000 (as of 2019). 

As mentioned earlier, vaccine hesitancy is a global issue, but its popularity in developing nations usually stems from a distrust in modern medicine and a reliance on natural and herbal remedies. Education surrounding vaccines in these communities is therefore essential in increasing immunisation rates. Again the problem is tied to the overall social and economic development of Nigeria. Easier access to clinics can even help with this issue as they create an avenue for families to familiarise themselves with vaccinations and other treatments. Childhood vaccination is sometimes the first contact many families have with formal healthcare providers.   

At the end of the day, it will require a consolidated effort between private and public bodies to create the resources to improve immunisation in Nigeria.