An Appraisal of Immunisation in Nigeria: Towards Improving Coverage

Abstract

Nigeria has achieved modest progress in immunization coverage particularly in the 1980-1990 periods. However, coverage has declined since the achievement of this peak. One factor important in sustainability of coverage is routine immunization and increased awareness to
increase the knowledge of mothers on immunization. Within the country also there’s a wide interstate variation in coverage figures with a generally greater percentage of full immunization Coverage obtained in the southern zones than in the Northern zones. Even though the Nigeria’s universal child immunization coverage is said to have improved in the last two years much is still needed to bring the coverage target to at least 75% throughout the nation for effective control of all Vaccine Preventable Diseases. Targeted “mop-up” campaigns should be intensified for the wild polio virus transmission as found limited to a specific focal area, as
found presently in some northern parts of Nigeria. As for the control of  measles, experience globally also shows that routine immunization together with supplemental measles immunization can reduce measles deaths.

Key words: Immunization coverage; appraisal; routine immunization; mop-up campaigns