Abuja, Nigeria remains steadfast in its commitment to the global goal of eliminating measles and rubella by 2030. As Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria’s progress is critical not only for regional but also for global efforts. The comprehensive Integrated Measles–Rubella and Polio Vaccination Campaign demonstrates strong government leadership and collaboration with local and international partners to ensure every eligible child receives essential vaccines.
In recent weeks, health workers have traversed rivers, rugged terrain, and crowded settlements to reach children with life-saving immunisations against measles, rubella, and polio. The Government of Nigeria, through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), successfully implemented the first phase of the campaign with support from WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, Rotary, the Gates Foundation, and other partners. The initial phase was conducted in two streams: the first included 11 states and the Federal Capital Territory, while the second focused on nine states, including Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Gombe, Kaduna, Plateau, Taraba, and Yobe.
The next phase is set to begin in January 2026 across 16 southern states, aiming to protect over 106 million children, making it the largest campaign of its kind in Africa and among the largest globally. The integrated approach allowed children to receive multiple health interventions in a single visit, including measles–rubella vaccines for children aged 9 months to 14 years, novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) for children under five, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, treatment for neglected tropical diseases, and HPV vaccination for nine-year-old girls. This strategy increased coverage, reduced missed opportunities, and strengthened primary health care capacity.
A deployment of over 27,000 trained vaccinators and social mobilisers supported the campaign. In flood-prone areas of Adamawa, teams used boats to reach isolated settlements, while in Kaduna, outreach posts were set up around farmlands and transit points. In Borno, caregivers in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and security-challenged communities accessed services at temporary vaccination posts. In the hills of Plateau State and Taraba’s Mambilla Plateau, teams carried vaccine cold boxes along steep paths to ensure no child was left behind. Abdulmumini Musa, a vaccinator in Bauchi State, noted, “We are committed to reaching every settlement on our microplans — no matter how difficult. Every vaccinated child reduces the risk of outbreaks.”
Preliminary national data for the first phase show that over 58.9 million children were vaccinated against measles and rubella, more than 38.5 million children received protection against variant poliovirus with nOPV2, and nearly 2.5 million people were reached with malaria and NTD interventions. About 675,000 nine-year-old girls received the HPV vaccine, while over 1.4 million children under one year received their first Penta dose, and approximately 3.3 million children aged 12–23 months received Penta-3, including previously zero-dose children. These results are being validated through post-campaign surveys and independent monitoring.
Governors, First Ladies, and Commissioners across the country led statewide flag-offs, reinforcing vaccination as a national priority. Ward development committees, traditional leaders, and influencers helped counter misinformation and encourage participation. Dr. Sufyan Ahmad, Incident Manager at the Emergency Operation Centre in Bauchi, emphasized, “Every child deserves protection, no matter where they live. We worked with Islamic school leaders, quickly solved supply gaps, and are now conducting mop-ups to reach missed children. I urge all caregivers to bring their children forward — their health depends on it.”
WHO provided coordinated technical, operational, and monitoring support, including guidance on microplanning, training on integrated service delivery, embedding experts in states and local areas for real-time support, and managing logistics, procurement, and accountability. Dr. Pavel Ursu, WHO Representative in Nigeria, highlighted, “Nigeria’s progress reflects strong government leadership and effective collaboration. Reaching every eligible child today prevents outbreaks tomorrow.”
The campaign has also strengthened Nigeria’s health systems by revitalising inter-sectoral coordination, improving microplanning and community engagement, enhancing accountability for coverage and equity, and strengthening skills for integrated primary health care delivery. Caregiver confidence in immunisation services has increased, supporting routine immunisation and bolstering public health security through extended age vaccination and emergency preparedness.
As mop-up activities continue to reach children who were missed, WHO, the Government of Nigeria, and partners urge all stakeholders to remain engaged. Sustained commitment is essential to achieving measles–rubella elimination by 2030, maintaining polio-free status, strengthening primary health care, and ensuring no child is left behind. Together, through coordinated action and community participation, Nigeria is building a healthier, more resilient future where every child counts.
