Nigeria has sustained progress in its national immunisation drive, recording expanded vaccine coverage even as stakeholders call for timely release of funds to maintain momentum.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC), Chika Offor, highlighted the development in Abuja while speaking on “In the News,” a current affairs programme on Voice of Nigeria.
She called for urgent intervention to avert what she described as a looming disruption in vaccine access across the country.
Offor said Nigeria has recently demonstrated commitment to improving immunisation coverage, citing a nationwide campaign that targeted over 100 million children with vaccines and other antigens, including the newly introduced measles-rubella vaccines.
“The campaign achieved close to 90 percent coverage,” she said, describing the outcome as a major milestone reflecting increased government and stakeholder commitment to child health.
However, she warned that sustaining the gains depends on consistent funding, noting that vaccines administered free to Nigerians are financed by the government, with support from partners such as Gavi and other international organisations.
Offor said Nigeria must meet its counterpart funding obligations to ensure an uninterrupted vaccine supply.
She disclosed that about ₦188 billion allocated for immunisation financing has yet to be fully released, despite being captured in the national budget.
According to her, only about 30 per cent of the ₦231 billion appropriated for vaccines in the previous fiscal cycle was eventually disbursed, raising concerns over a pattern of under-release.
She warned that delays could lead to vaccine stockouts at primary healthcare centres, limiting access for millions of children, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
With Nigeria recording an estimated 8.7 million births annually, Offor said even short-term disruptions could increase vulnerability to vaccine-preventable diseases and raise child mortality rates.
On vaccine acceptance, she noted a significant decline in hesitancy across the country, attributing the improvement to sustained advocacy and awareness campaigns.
Offor explained that current challenges are largely driven by logistics, including transportation barriers, inadequate information, and temporary shortages at health facilities.
“In other instances, improved communication and community engagement have successfully changed perceptions and encouraged uptake,” she said.
She also identified insecurity in some regions as a challenge to vaccine delivery, noting that innovative approaches such as the use of drones are being deployed to reach hard-to-access areas.
On policy, Offor advocated reforms to strengthen immunisation financing.
“Vaccine funding should be placed on first-line charge to ensure automatic and timely releases, rather than being subjected to competition under service-wide votes,” she said.
She also backed proposals to increase allocations under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund and called for greater involvement of state governments in vaccine financing.
Offor said private sector participation remains critical but must be supported by clear investment incentives and a strong business case linking immunisation to economic growth.
While acknowledging Nigeria’s economic constraints, she stressed that health must remain a priority, urging authorities to expedite the release of funds.
She warned that failure to act could reverse gains in disease control and lead to the resurgence of previously contained illnesses.
Offor said investment in immunisation remains essential to national development and the well-being of citizens, particularly children.