Nigeria Has The Highest Number Of Unvaccinated Children Globally – UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has disclosed that Nigeria currently carries the heaviest burden of unvaccinated children globally. Bashir Elegbede, a UNICEF health officer, shared these statistics during a media dialogue in Damaturu, Yobe State, as part of events commemorating the 2025 World Immunisation Week.

Elegbede revealed that approximately 2.1 million Nigerian children, accounting for 24 percent of the nation’s 8.7 million children under one year old, have not received any routine vaccinations. These children, termed “zero-dose” children, have missed all immunisations outlined in the national routine immunisation schedule.

He noted that the global target is to decrease the number of zero-dose children by 25 percent by 2025 and by 50 percent by 2030. He described Nigeria’s situation as critical, stating that the high number of zero-dose children poses a threat to public health and weakens efforts to curb vaccine-preventable diseases.

Elegbede pinpointed regions impacted by conflict, climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and remote rural areas as the primary locations of these zero-dose children. Urban slums and areas with poorly functioning health systems also significantly contribute to the national statistics.

He cautioned that unvaccinated children are more vulnerable to diseases such as polio, measles, meningitis, yellow fever, and viral hepatitis, emphasizing that vaccines are vital for reducing child mortality and promoting healthy growth. He added that despite worldwide advancements, Nigeria remains the most affected nation, with Borno and Yobe states among the most severely impacted.

UNICEF, he stated, continues to collaborate with Nigeria’s government to enhance routine immunisation and bolster the nation’s health infrastructure. In 2024, the organization facilitated the vaccination of around 20,000 zero-dose children in Yobe State with the pentavalent vaccine, which guards against five life-threatening diseases. In Borno State, 145,000 unvaccinated children were reached, and a wider initiative called the Big Catch-Up targeted another 165,000 children across the North-East in March and April 2025. Of that target, 138,000 children—representing 95 percent—were successfully vaccinated.

The Emir of Damaturu, Shehu Hashimi II Ibn Umar Al-Amin El-Kanemi, through his representative Maisanda Lawan, commended UNICEF’s efforts and reiterated the traditional institution’s dedication to ensuring vaccine accessibility in all communities throughout Yobe.

World Immunisation Week, observed globally from April 24 to 30, seeks to raise awareness and improve access to vaccines. This year’s theme, “Immunisation for all is humanly possible,” highlights the World Health Organisation’s call for increased investment and collaboration to achieve equitable vaccine coverage for every child.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli