Vaccine Programme For Children In Nigeria

Nigeria has a vaccine programme. This programme begins from birth and into adulthood. Parents are advice to follow through the whole programme to ensure their child gets all available vaccine.

Vaccines are one of the best ways of preventing diseases. Achieving immunization through vaccination starts from childbirth against some disease. Not all diseases have effective vaccines.

Each country has different types of vaccines and programme. Vaccines selection for each country is based on disease prevalence and how it impact on the country. Also, the dose and frequency varies.

The federal ministry of health (FOH) has approved the use of some vaccines for children in government establishments free of charge. These vaccines cover the most prevalent and deadly disease around. There are other vaccines approved for use in Nigeria. However, those ones are optional and are meant for adults.

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Also, some children may get additional vaccines against some disease. This is based on the decision of the doctor after establishing the history of the child.

Most of these vaccines are given through injection. It could be intravenous (IV) or intramuscular (IM). The only exception is the oral polio vaccine.

To begin with, a newborn baby vaccine programme is monitored with a track card. Each vaccine and dose given is noted until the child completes the immunization programme. The card should be kept in the child's data by the mother or guidance to help future health care.

Children Vaccines

1. BCG (Baccille Calmette-Guérin)

2. DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus toxoid)

3. Polio

4. Measles

Vaccine Programme In Nigeria

One vaccine is given just once for immunization to take effect. But the majority need a booster dose. Below is the list of vaccines and their frequency.

Table showing vaccines

Vaccine	Dose Frequency	Time Given
Hepatitis B	First	At birth
	Second	2 months
	Third	6 months
Pentavalent	First	6 weeks
	Second	10 weeks
	Third	14 weeks
DPT	First	2 months
	Second	4 months
	Third	6 months
	Fourth	15 months
	Fifth	5 years
Polio	First	At birth
	Second	6 weeks
	Third	10 weeks
	Fourth	1-2 years
Haemophilia influenza	First	2 months
	Second	4 months
	Third	6 months
	Fourth	12 months
BCG	First	At birth
PCV 1	First	6 weeks
	Second	10 weeks
	Third	14 weeks
Rotavirus	First	6 weeks
	Second	10 weeks
Vitamin A	First	6 months
	Second	1-2 years
Measles	First	9 months
Yellow fever	First	9 months
Meningitis	First	1-2 years
MMR	First	15-18 months
Chicken pox	First	15-15 months
Typhoid	First	24 months
HPV	First	13 years and above

Some Abbreviations

a. Pentavalent (DPT, Hep B, HIB)

b. MMR (Mumps, Measles and Rubella)

c. HPV (Human papilloma virus)

d. HIB (Haemophilus influenza type B)

Immunization programme

Disease With Vaccines

Here is a list of some of the diseases with available vaccines.

Diphtheria

This disease damages the heart and nervous system. The major symptoms are difficulty in breathing.

Tetanus

This affects the nervous system. The disease attacks the muscle of the jaw making it difficult to chew and swallow including breathing.

Pertussis

Is a disease that can cause pneumonia which includes cough that can damage the brain.

HIB

Affect the brain and spinal covering. Side effects include pneumonia, infection of the blood, brain, ear, bones and joints.

Hepatitis B

Affect the liver leading to liver cancer. Other symptoms include muscle pain, jaundice, joints and stomach pains.

Polio

Is a disease of the nervous system that can cause paralysis in children.

Pneumococcal

Is a disease with similar symptoms with HIB

Rotavirus

Is a disease that causes vomiting and diarrhea leading to loss of body fluid and electrolyte.

Measles

A very deadly disease that comes with high fever, body rash (small white spots known as kopliks) inside the mouth and body, cough, running nose, etc.

Chicken Pox

Results from small itchy blisters all over the body. Comes with fever, fatigue, headache, etc.

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Typhoid

A disease caused by salmonella bacteria. It is contracted from contaminated water and food. It images organs of the body left untreated. Symptoms include headache, body pain and fever.

Mumps

It is a disease that affects the parotid glands (salivary). There is a swelling below the earlobe that is accompanied with fever, headache and ache.

Rubella

It begins with fever, itchy rash that begins with the face and later down the other part of the skin. It also causes sore throat, low grade fever, etc. It can cause miscarriage and birth defects in pregnant women.

Yellow Fever

Fever, headache, loss of appetite are some of the symptoms of yellow fever. It is transmitted by mosquitoes and is common in South America and Africa. Complications include bleeding from the gums, eye, nose and also kidney failure, jaundice, etc.

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