Nigeria Launches Africa's Largest Vaccination Campaign
Nigeria has launched one of the largest vaccination campaigns in African history, targeting 106 million children against measles, rubella, and polio. First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu officially inaugurated the campaign on Monday, October 6, 2025, marking a critical milestone in protecting children from preventable diseases.
Two-Phase Rollout Strategy
The campaign will be implemented in two phases. Phase one covers 20 high-risk northern states and Oyo State, targeting 63 million children aged 9 months to 14 years for measles-rubella vaccination and children aged 0-59 months for polio vaccination. Phase two begins in January 2026 and will reach the remaining southern states, covering an additional 43 million children.
Health workers will deliver vaccines through fixed posts, temporary outreach points, and house-to-house teams to reach even the most remote communities. Services will be available at places of worship, schools, playgrounds, and healthcare facilities.
Integrated Health Approach
Beyond vaccinations, the campaign integrates multiple child health services, including routine immunization, HPV vaccination for 9-year-old girls, malaria prevention, treatment for neglected tropical diseases, and distribution of mosquito nets and deworming tablets in select states. This aligns with Nigeria's "Primary Health Care Under One Roof" strategy.
The initiative also introduces a new combined measles-rubella vaccine to replace the previous measles-only vaccine, allowing simultaneous protection against both diseases with a single injection.
Responding to Urgent Threats
The campaign responds to persistent outbreaks of measles, rubella, and circulating variant poliovirus type 2. Measles remains one of the leading causes of death among children under five in Nigeria. Earlier this year, an outbreak in northeast Nigeria killed at least 42 people. Rubella, while often causing milder symptoms, can lead to Congenital Rubella Syndrome when contracted during pregnancy, causing severe birth defects in approximately 100,000 babies globally each year.
““We are here today to flag off a solution, a pathway to hope, and a promise of progress. With this vaccine, our children will be protected against two deadly diseases and enjoy a lifetime of safety and protection.””
International Partnership and Progress
The campaign is supported by WHO, UNICEF, Gavi (pledging $103 million), Rotary International, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Africa Centres for Disease Control. Gavi has invested over $2.6 billion in Nigeria's immunization efforts over two decades.
Nigeria has made significant progress, with routine immunization coverage rising from 33% in 2016 to over 60% today. The country achieved wild poliovirus-free certification in 2020. However, challenges remain: over two million Nigerian children are still "zero-dose" (completely unvaccinated), the second-highest figure globally.
Dr. Mohammed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, praised the initiative: "Nigeria's integrated approach sets a strong example for the Region. By uniting efforts against measles, rubella, and polio, and by working hand-in-hand with communities and partners, we are moving closer to the day when no African child suffers or dies from these preventable diseases."
Nigeria is also coordinating with Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, and Niger through a cross-border action plan to stop active outbreaks by the end of 2025 and eliminate remaining risks by 2026.
