Abuja:The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has revealed that 93 percent of children affected by recent diphtheria outbreaks had not received complete doses of the recommended vaccines. Dr. Muyi Aina, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of NPHCDA, presented this information during the agency’s quarterly media briefing.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Aina emphasized the importance of renewed efforts by parents, caregivers, community leaders, and other stakeholders to ensure children receive life-saving vaccines. He noted that either the children had not received any vaccine or only one of the three recommended doses.
The NPHCDA chief executive identified misinformation and false rumors as contributing factors to the low vaccine uptake in some communities. Despite the availability of vaccines, misinformation has hindered access, he explained.
Aina highlighted that reducing vaccine-preventable diseases remains a critical priority for the agency’s immunization program. He mentioned that over 18.3 million girls have been vaccinated with the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, and efforts are ongoing to expand coverage among eligible girls. Additionally, the measles-rubella vaccine has reached more than 102 million children aged nine months to 14 years.
In efforts to combat malaria, 882,000 children in Kebbi, Bayelsa, Ondo, and Bauchi states have received at least the first dose of the malaria vaccine. The agency is also working on improving routine immunization coverage and reducing the number of zero-dose children through targeted interventions.
Aina called on caregivers, community leaders, and teachers to support vaccination efforts, emphasizing the importance of protecting children against preventable diseases. He also mentioned plans to expand the Basic Health Care Provision Fund to more facilities, aiming to increase coverage from 8,300 to 15,000.