There are estimated 400,000 children, aged one year and above, that have not received any form of vaccine across North-east states.
This was stated Tuesday by the United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) health officer, Bashir Elegbede, during a one-day media dialogue to commemorate the 2025 World Immunisation Day, in Damaturu.
He said out of the estimated number, two local governments in Yobe state, Geidam and Gulani, and eight in Borno state, MMC, Jere, Mafa, Damboa,Gubio, Monguno,Dikwa, Kala-balge, are affected.
He added that the unvaccinated children are mostly found in locations affected by conflict, climate change, Covid-19 pandemic, geographic hard-to-reach places, pastoral, urban outskirt and slums, including area with existing health system challenge.
He stated further that children not immunised have relatively high risk of being infected by polio, measles, CSM, yellow fever, and viral hepatitis amongst so many diseases numbering up to 30.
“UNICEF has supported Yobe state in vaccinating around 20,000 Zero Dose (ZD) children with the administration of the DPT/PENTA vaccine in 2024. Furthermore, the UNICEF Volunteer Community Mobilizers (VCM) have exhibited a robust commitment and effectively reduced non-compliance to routine immunisation to less than 1% as reported across VCM settlements in Yobe state.
“In Borno state, UNICEF’s intervention has successfully reached 145,000 ZD children across prioritised local government areas (LGAs). Furthermore, an additional 165,000 ZD children throughout the northeastern region have been earmarked for Big Catch-Up campaigns scheduled for March and April 2025, with the aim of maximising their protection against vaccine preventable diseases.
“A total of 138,000 (95%) of these children were successfully vaccinated during the BCU conducted in March 2025, while the third round is anticipated to conclude in April 2025,”he said.