Vaccination: A Vital Tool in the Fight Against Diseases in Nigeria

Image by 12019 from Pixabay

Vaccines work. They prevent diseases and save lives, and governments worldwide have national vaccination programmes to protect you and your loved ones against potentially life-threatening illnesses. 

In this article, we will discuss vaccination, its importance, some critical issues relating to vaccines and the current vaccination schedule in Nigeria.

What is a Vaccine?

A vaccine is a weakened or dead form of disease-causing microorganisms or parts of the microorganism that is introduced to the body to trigger a mock immune response. When the vaccine succeeds in eliciting an immune response in your body, you become immunised. 

Through immunisation, your white blood cells produce antibodies that neutralise microorganisms when they invade. When you are then exposed to an active microorganism that can cause an actual disease, your immune system recognizes and eliminates it quickly.

Vaccines work when you get them before you contract a disease. It prepares you ahead to fight the disease. That’s why you must get vaccinated early and encourage more people to get their vaccine shots, too.

What is Vaccination?

Vaccination is the act of giving someone a vaccine to protect them from a disease. It prompts the body to respond better to infections, and ensures that we do not get really sick from common infections. 

Thanks to vaccination, we have been able to eradicate or minimize the impact of diseases like polio, smallpox, tetanus, whooping cough, and measles. 

Why is Vaccination Important?

Vaccines are a great way to prevent infections and diseases, but their importance goes beyond prevention. Other important benefits of vaccines include 

• Herd Immunity: Vaccinating enough people can protect everyone, especially those who cannot or are yet to receive the vaccine. So, when you get vaccinated, you’ll protect yourself and your family and community.
• Life-Saving and Disease Burden Reduction: Vaccines prevent infections with life-threatening bacteria and viruses, saving lives and lessening the disease burden on healthcare systems. 
• Reduction of Disease Severity: Vaccines mount an immediate and effective immune response, reducing the need for extensive medical treatment and hospitalisation, which can be costly for individuals and the healthcare system.
• Protection of Future Generations: Vaccines prevent disease transmission through generations by eradicating them.
• Special Protection for Vulnerable Groups: Vaccines protect pregnant women, infants, and young children who are more likely to develop severe complications from vaccine-preventable infections. 

Vaccination Schedule in Nigeria

Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich 

The National Programme on Immunization (NPI) was established in 1979 to provide free and safe vaccines to all children under five. Over the years, the NPI has expanded to include vaccines for adults and schoolchildren.

The current vaccination schedule and vaccines for diseases in Nigeria are summarised in the table below:

What diseases do the vaccines in the vaccination schedule cover? 

1. Tuberculosis (BCG) vaccine 

The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is one of the vaccines given to babies in Nigeria as soon as they are born. It protects against tuberculosis (TB), a bacterial infection that targets the lungs but can also affect other body parts. The vaccine is given as a single dose and provides lifelong protection.

1. Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus (DPT) 

The DPT vaccine protects against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and tetanus.  It is given in three doses:

• The first dose is given at six weeks 
• The second at ten weeks
• The third at 14 weeks

A booster dose is recommended at nine months of age, and subsequent boosters are also recommended every ten years to maintain immunity against these diseases.

1. Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV)

The OPV vaccine helped Nigeria eradicate poliomyelitis, caused by poliovirus, in 2019. The oral polio vaccine is given over four doses: 

• The first dose is administered at six weeks 
• The second dose is administered at ten weeks
• The third dose is administered at 14 weeks
• The fourth dose is administered at nine months

Subsequently, a booster dose is recommended every 2–5 years to maintain immunity against the disease. 

1. Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine

Measles, mumps, and rubella are viral diseases that cause exanthems or rashes in children. They are common among schoolchildren and those living in crowded conditions. Thankfully, the diseases are preventable with the MMR vaccine.

The vaccine is given in two doses:

• The first dose is administered at nine months
• The second is at 15 months

A booster dose is recommended every 5–10 years to maintain immunity against the three diseases.

1. Yellow Fever Vaccine

In Nigeria and other parts of Africa, the yellow fever vaccine is recommended for infants and children as part of the routine immunisation schedule and for travellers to areas with a high risk of yellow fever transmission. 

Yellow fever virus (YFV) causes yellow fever, a life-threatening disease that causes bleeding and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes). Mosquitoes transmit the virus.

The yellow fever vaccine is given as a single dose, usually at nine months, but it can be given as early as six months to infants and children travelling to areas with a high risk of yellow fever transmission.

1. Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine

Haemophilus influenzae type b causes meningitis, pneumonia, and epiglottitis in young children. The Hib vaccine helps to protect against these infections.

The Hib vaccine is usually given in three doses. 

• The first dose is given at six weeks 
• The second dose is given at ten weeks
• The third dose is given at 14 wxeeks

1. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine

Ted Eytan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons 

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the HPV vaccine for girls aged 9 to 14 years and this has been approved in Nigeria, However, a second dose may be given within six months after the first dose. The vaccine prevents infections by the most common types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that can cause cervical cancer, vulvar cancer, vaginal cancer, and anal cancer.

1. Meningococcal Disease Vaccines

Nigeria introduced the meningitis A conjugate vaccine into the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) schedule in 2018 to prevent Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) infection, which causes meningitis and sepsis. 

The meningococcal vaccine is usually given in a single dose. It can be given to individuals of all ages who are at increased risk of meningococcal diseases, such as those travelling to areas with a high risk of meningococcal disease transmission, military personnel, and laboratory workers.

A new meningococcal vaccine that protects against five strains of meningococcus was rolled out in 2024, but it has not been included in the national immunisation schedule.

1. Pneumococcal Disease Vaccine

The pneumococcal disease vaccine prevents infection by Streptococcus pneumoniae, also known as pneumococcus, responsible for pneumococcal disease.

The pneumococcal vaccine is given in four doses: 

• The first dose is given at six weeks 
• The second dose is given at ten weeks
• The third dose is given at fourteen weeks
• The fourth dose is given at nine months

1. Rotavirus

Rotavirus is a highly infectious virus that can result in severe diarrhoea in young children, leading to dehydration, malnutrition, and other critical health issues.

Typically, the rotavirus vaccine is administered in three doses: 

• The first dose is given at six weeks 
• The second dose is given at ten weeks
• The third dose is given at 14 weeks

Concerns about vaccines

Parents taking their children for vaccine shots have a right to be concerned about the usefulness and safety of the vaccines, so as not to expose the children to unnecessary dangers.

One major is about the side effects of vaccines. A British doctor once linked vaccine use to the development of autism. While many studies have debunked that myth, such fears still remain. Thankfully, studies from reputable governmental and non-profit organisations have shown no link between vaccines and autism, and millions of children vaccinated worldwide are leading healthier lives thanks to vaccines they took.

In the light of the quick approval of vaccines of Covid-19, many wonder if the trials are adequate and the time is long enough to ensure that vaccines are indeed safe. The concerns are valid. 

The road from vaccine discovery to approval is often long, taking tens of years before they are allowed to be used on patients. Some of the Covid-19 vaccines have been in the pipeline for more than 10 years before the outbreak. The scale of the pandemic forced regulators to fast track its use on patients. Even then, they met the minimum criteria for safety and efficacy.

Parents that have personal, philosophical, or religious reservations about vaccine use should speak with a trusted advisor who has reliable knowledge of vaccines and vaccine ethics to guide them.

Vaccines save lives, and they are safe

Vaccines go through stringent clinical and regulatory phases before they are allowed to be used on humans. They are tested first on animals, then volunteer patients, after which they are released into the market for public use. Even then, vaccines in use are subject to post-market surveillance to see how they are performing. Vaccines at risk of hurting patients are removed from circulation immediately.

Vaccines in the national vaccination schedule meet the criteria for safety and efficacy. You and your family, friends, and community can be protected from infections, serious illnesses, and hospitalisation by getting the recommended vaccines.