By Fatima Mukhtar
The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched a massive nationwide vaccination campaign aimed at protecting more than 106 million children against measles, rubella, and polio, one of the largest integrated immunization drives in the country’s history.
According to Punch Newspaper and information from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), the exercise will be implemented in two phases, beginning this October across 20 high-risk northern states and Oyo State in the southwest. The second phase, scheduled for January 2026, will extend to the remaining states of the federation.
The integrated campaign targets children aged 9 months to 14 years for measles and rubella vaccination, while those aged 0 to 59 months (under five years) will receive the polio vaccine. The initiative also introduces a new combined measles-rubella vaccine, replacing the old measles-only shot in routine immunization.
Officials say the campaign will not only focus on vaccination but will also incorporate other essential child health services, including treatments for neglected tropical diseases and seasonal malaria chemoprevention in select areas.
Nigeria was declared free of wild poliovirus in 2020, but the country continues to battle outbreaks of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2), along with periodic measles and rubella infections. Data from the health ministry shows that 297 measles cases were recorded in the first half of 2024.
Public health experts have described the campaign as a critical step toward improving child survival and disease prevention across Nigeria. However, challenges such as vaccine hesitancy, logistical difficulties, and security concerns in some regions may affect implementation.
The integrated vaccination drive is being supported by international partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
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