Nigeria has the highest number of unvaccinated children in the world, with an estimated 2.1 million “zero-dose” children; those who have not received a single routine vaccine.
Many of these children are tucked away in remote villages, displaced camps, and conflict-ridden communities, particularly in northeastern Nigeria.
UNICEF Health Officer, Bashir Elegbede, said “These are children who haven’t received even one dose of the pentavalent vaccine. They are the most vulnerable and the most at risk of dying from vaccine-preventable diseases.”
Elegbede stated this during a media dialogue organised by UNICEF in Damaturu, Yobe State, to commemorate the 2025 World Immunisation Week, aimed to raise awareness about immunisation challenges and efforts, particularly in the conflict-affected northeastern region.
He described vaccines as “lifesavers” and stressed their critical role in ensuring children’s survival and healthy development. “Vaccines provide the necessary foundation for children to thrive. Yet, Globally, sadly, Nigeria has the highest burden of zero dose children. A number estimated to be 2.1 million as at 2023 (WUENIC 2023).
“With Borno and Yobe States having a disproportionate number of these children. UNICEF, alongside stakeholders in the health sector have continued to work with government to reduce the number of zero dose children through improvement routine immunisation coverages and approaches that strengthen the health systems across Nigeria,” he said
He called on Nigerians at all levels to intensify efforts. “A vaccine for one among us is for our collective protection. We must dispel misinformation, strengthen our health systems, and ensure no child remains in the shadows,” he said.
In places like Borno and Yobe, insecurity, poor infrastructure, and misinformation have combined to create vast immunisation deserts. Out of 200 local government areas classified as high-priority nationwide, ten are in the northeast; two in Yobe and eight in Borno. UNICEF estimates that over 400,000 children in these LGAs have never received a single vaccine.
The Director of Disease Control for Yobe State, Dr. Umar Chiroma, said the challenge is complex. “It’s not just about access; it’s about trust, terrain, and sometimes even tradition.”
He outlined Yobe’s three-pronged approach: fixed-site immunisation at health facilities, outreach campaigns, and mobile units that navigate tough terrain to reach underserved settlements. Still, about 17.5 per cent of children in the state remain zero-dose, especially in areas like Geidam and Gulani.
Recognising that medical supplies alone cannot win this battle, state officials are increasingly turning to local leaders for support. Yobe State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mohammed Lawan Gana, stressed the importance of community ownership in primary healthcare delivery.
“In Northern Nigeria, traditional institutions aren’t just symbolic, they are the backbone of our communities. No intervention will succeed without their full involvement,” he said.
The state has partnered with community leaders and volunteers to combat vaccine hesitancy and ensure full participation in immunisation rounds. In 2024, this approach helped vaccinate 20,000 zero-dose children in Yobe, while in Borno, intensified campaigns reached 145,000 previously unvaccinated children.
The Emir of Damaturu, Shehu Hashimi II, Umar Al-Amin El-Kanemi, expressed continued support for these efforts. He affirmed the traditional council’s commitment to ensuring no child is left behind. “We will continue to support the delivery of vaccines to every household in our emirate,” he pledged.
Children who miss routine vaccinations are at much higher risk of dying from common childhood illnesses. But the numbers are beginning to shift. The “Big Catch-Up” campaign in March and April 2025 targeted another 165,000 children across the northeast, with 95 per cent successfully vaccinated.
As Nigeria fights to close the immunisation gap, it is increasingly clear that reaching the zero-dose child means reaching every corner of society, from dusty roads to distant villages, and from policy rooms to palace courtyards.
