The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has declared immunisation mandatory for school admission and warned that denying a child vaccination violates their fundamental rights under the Child Rights Act.
The mandate secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), Dr Dolapo Fasawe, issued the stern directive during a press briefing on Thursday, expressing concern that some schools have obstructed the ongoing Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign.
“Such actions undermine public health gains and put our children at unnecessary risk. Every eligible child has a legal and moral right to be immunised. Denying vaccination is a breach of the Child Rights Act,” she said.
The FCTA also approved a new policy making immunisation checks compulsory for all school admissions, re-admissions, and transfers.
“Schools are now required to maintain a Child Health Register, partner with nearby Primary Healthcare Centres for on-site vaccination, and submit monthly compliance reports to the authorities.
“Failure to comply will attract administrative sanctions under existing regulations,” Fasawe warned.
She said that to address the challenge of non-compliant schools, the administration has compiled a list of offenders, issued reminder letters, conducted community sensitisation, and finalised a mop-up exercise involving 132 dedicated vaccination teams.
While acknowledging the campaign’s overall success, crediting collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and development partners, Fasawe highlighted an innovative measure linking vaccination with access to the FCT Health Insurance Scheme, which supported 600 vaccination teams across the territory’s six area councils.
“Immunisation saves lives. It is a collective responsibility, a legal duty, and a moral imperative. Together, we can ensure no child in the FCT is denied protection from preventable diseases,” she said.
She commended Stella Maris School, Abuja, for setting a positive example by welcoming vaccination officers without hesitation.
Also, the health secretary’s stance, the FCT mandate secretary for Women Affairs, Dr Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, appealed to parents and community leaders to support the campaign, assuring them of the vaccines’ safety.
“These vaccines will not kill our children. We must take ownership of our children’s future and this government’s legacy by ensuring every child is protected,” she said.
The director of Disease Control and Immunisation, Dr Rufai Garba, described vaccine refusal as a dangerous act with societal consequences.
“In my opinion, it is a crime to deny a child immunisation, whether by a parent, teacher or caregiver. Without vaccines, hospitals will be overwhelmed and families will face avoidable health crises and financial burden,” he said.
Garba urged citizens to trust in the country’s over three decades of experience in immunisation, noting that Nigeria is targeting millions of children nationwide.
