Government will initiate the second phase of combined inoculation in 11 states deemed high-risk, scheduled from September 11 to 14.
The Nigerian government has announced plans for a second round of an integrated vaccination campaign, focusing on 11 high-risk states, following significant progress in the first round. This was disclosed during a briefing by Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State at the end of the 151st National Economic Council (NEC) meeting.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who chaired the NEC meeting, emphasised the importance of the campaign, especially in key states like Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto, where coordination is crucial for successful implementation. The campaign aims to deliver measles, rubella, polio vaccines, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, and interventions for neglected tropical diseases.
The first round of the campaign, held earlier this year, recorded significant success, reaching about 2.7 million children across northern Nigeria. Coverage stood at approximately 83%, marking strong progress compared to earlier efforts.
The campaign is particularly targeted at children aged 0-14 years, and local government chairmen have been urged to convene review meetings to ensure complete mop-up activities. The NEC also recommended that Deputy Governors, who chair the State Task Force on immunization, should meet at least two weeks before the next rounds of campaigns.
The council advised that states should conduct post-campaign reviews led by State Commissioners of Health and Executive Secretaries of Primary Health Care Development Agencies to address gaps and develop mop-up plans.
The integrated vaccination campaign comes amidst concerns about a new polio variant that has emerged, particularly in the Northwest and border regions with Chad and Cameroon. Although Nigeria was declared polio-free in 2020, efforts are ongoing to eradicate this new variant and improve vaccination coverage, especially in areas with porous borders.
To ensure a smooth and effective polio immunization exercise nationwide, the NEC requested that the Accountant General of the Federation expedite the release of funds. Security agencies have also been directed to provide adequate coverage for the immunization campaigns, especially in high-risk areas like Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kaduna.
Notably, Kano and Kaduna states have recorded significant reductions, with 85% and 84% reductions respectively. The number of recorded cases has dropped from 78 in the 33rd week of 2024 to 42 cases.
It is worth noting that Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who chaired the NEC meeting, is a trained agricultural economist and former banker who served as Governor of Borno State from 2011 to 2019 and later as a senator. However, there is no specific information that directly states his role in the integrated vaccination campaign.
The second round of the integrated vaccination campaign is scheduled to take place from September 11 to 14, 2025, across the 11 high-risk states. The successful implementation of this campaign is crucial in Nigeria's ongoing efforts to eradicate polio and other preventable diseases.
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