Nigeria has launched one of the largest integrated vaccination campaigns in its history, targeting approximately 106 million children to protect them against measles, rubella, and poliomyelitis. The nationwide initiative combines multiple vaccines and essential child health services into a single drive to ensure efficient delivery across the country. The campaign targets children aged 0–14 years for measles and rubella and 0–59 months for polio, and will be implemented in two phases. Phase one, starting immediately, covers 20 high-risk northern states and Oyo state in the southwest, while phase two, beginning in January 2026, will expand to the remaining southern states.
To reach all communities, health workers will operate through fixed posts, temporary outreach points, and house-to-house “sweep teams,” ensuring that even children in remote and underserved areas are vaccinated. The campaign also integrates routine immunizations and other essential child health services, including treatment for neglected tropical diseases and seasonal malaria chemoprevention in high-risk areas. This holistic approach supports Nigeria’s “Primary Health Care Under One Roof” strategy and advances the Health Campaign Effectiveness agenda toward universal health coverage.
The campaign addresses ongoing outbreaks of circulating variant poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2), as well as measles and rubella outbreaks in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin. Nigeria is coordinating with Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, and Niger through a cross-border action plan to halt active outbreaks by the end of 2025 and eliminate remaining risks by the end of 2026. Health Minister Dr. Ali Pate emphasized the critical role of frontline health workers and urged communities to participate, noting the safety and life-saving benefits of vaccines.
This initiative builds on the success of recent “In-between Round Activities” conducted in 11 northern states between August and September 2025, which reached over 3.1 million children with vaccines, provided nutritional supplements to 500,000 malnourished children, and delivered anti-malaria interventions to 150,000 children. WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Mohammed Janabi, highlighted Nigeria’s integrated approach as a regional model, emphasizing the collaboration between communities, government, and partners in moving toward the elimination of preventable diseases in African children.
In preparation for the campaign, Nigeria strengthened systems to ensure smooth implementation, including mobilizing trainers, redesigning payment processes for frontline workers, and upgrading campaign data systems to safeguard integrity and improve accountability. The campaign also introduces a combined measles-rubella vaccine, replacing the previous measles-only formulation. Measles poses a significant risk to children, especially those malnourished, while rubella can cause severe birth defects if contracted during pregnancy.
The vaccination drive is led by the Nigerian government with support from WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Rotary International, the Gates Foundation, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, civil society organizations, and traditional and religious leaders. Comprehensive coordination mechanisms have been established for financing, social mobilization, training, vaccine delivery, and logistics to ensure the campaign’s success.
