Nigeria has been ranked among countries with the highest number of unvaccinated children globally, with an estimated 2.1 million “zero-dose” children who have never received a single routine vaccine, according to World Health Organization and UNICEF.
An additional 2.3 million children are classified as under-immunised, having started but not completed their vaccination schedules, figures from Gavi indicate.
This alarming situation comes as the world marks World Immunisation Week 2026 (April 24–30), themed “For Every Generation, Vaccines Work.” In response, Save the Children Nigeria has called for renewed commitment and coordinated action to reach vulnerable children, particularly in underserved communities in Lagos and Kano States.
Data from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey shows that only about one-third of children aged 12–23 months are fully immunised, leaving millions exposed to vaccine-preventable diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhoea, and meningitis.
Health experts warn that at least 41 percent of under-five deaths in Nigeria are linked to vaccine-preventable diseases, with unvaccinated children accounting for an estimated 337,000 deaths annually.
Read Also:
Kano CoP Trained on Immunisation Advocacy, Seeks Funding to Tackle Zero-Dose Children
UNICEF Raises Alarm Over Child Poverty as States Push Social Protection Reforms
GEEP 3.0 Outreach in Kano Targets Farmers, Traders
Speaking on the development, Country Director of Save the Children Nigeria, Duncan Harvey, stressed the urgency of addressing immunisation gaps.
“Vaccines have protected families for generations, yet millions of Nigerian children are still missing out on this basic right. Reaching zero-dose and under-immunised children requires strong health systems, trusted community engagement, and sustained investment,” he said.
The organisation noted that barriers such as limited access to healthcare, weak follow-up systems, misinformation, harmful social norms, and poor community engagement continue to hinder immunisation efforts.
To address these challenges, Save the Children Nigeria is implementing the Better Opportunities for Optimal Services and Targeted Immunisation (BOOST) Project in Lagos and Kano States. The initiative aims to improve vaccine access, strengthen caregiver awareness, and enhance policy support for immunisation.
Funded by GlaxoSmithKline, the four-year project (2024–2027) focuses on reducing the number of zero-dose and under-immunised children through targeted interventions in selected local government areas.
A beneficiary of the programme, identified as Mama Ismail, urged other mothers to prioritise vaccination.
“I am very happy for vaccinating my child, and I appeal to every mother in my community to take their children for vaccination because it is essential for their health,” she said.
Save the Children further called on government and stakeholders to strengthen routine immunisation systems, invest in data tracking, support healthcare workers, counter misinformation, and increase funding for primary healthcare services.
The organisation reiterated that World Immunisation Week serves as a critical reminder that every child, regardless of location or background, deserves access to life-saving vaccines.