Yellow fever childhood immunization coverage in Jos North Local Government Area, North Central Nigeria: 2015 – 2017

Abstract

Background: The transmission of Yellow fever,a viral hemorrhagic feveris facilitated in countries which have close proximity to the mosquito vectors and large number of unvaccinated population. Globally, mass vaccination campaigns have significantlyreduced the incidence of this disease, but recent reports from the World Health Organization (WHO), indicates an increase in the rate of transmission, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. Between 2017 and 2018,some Nigerian states including Plateau state reported confirmed cases of yellow fever. In this study, we assessed the yellow fever immunization coverage in Jos North Local Government area (LGA) of Plateau state.

Methodology: A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out to assess yellow fever immunization coverage in Jos North LGA over a 3-year period from January 2015 to December 2017, with data obtained from the Local Government Area office. This included both data from routine and supplemental immunization activities. The number of children immunized was then compared to the target population to assess coverage for each year.

Results: Overall, 71, 734 children were immunized. This comprised of  infants 9-11 months 69,344(96.7%) and 1 -5 year old infants 2390(3.3%). The overall average immunization coverage was (21,514/92,652) 23.2% in 2015, (24,977/93,569) 26.6% in 2016, and (25,243/94,495) 26.7% in 2017, with a mean coverage of 25.5% over the 3 year period.

Conclusion: Yellow fever immunization coverage in this LGA is low. Urgent work needs to be done to increase immunization coverage across the local government, and by extension the state and country, especially in view of the recent outbreak of yellow fever in some states.

Key words: Yellow fever, Immunization, North-Central Nigeria.