Afrigather 
Abuja, 22 August, 2022 – Focusing on common immunization, the federal government of Nigeria by means of the Nationwide Major Well being Care Growth Company (NPHCDA), with help from the World Well being Group (WHO) and companions, on 22 August 2022, launched the rotavirus vaccine into Routine Immunization (RI) Schedule.
The introduction of the vaccine into the RI programme is in recognition of the magnitude of rotavirus-related diarrhoea illness and the immunisation programme goals to avert over 50,000 kids’s loss of life from the illness yearly.
With this, the vaccine that prices round N10,000 or extra per dose in some healthcare amenities throughout the nation will likely be given freed from price to all infants on the age of 6, 10 and 14 weeks, together with different vaccines underneath the RI programme.
Life-saving vaccine
Talking throughout the launch of Rotavirus Vaccine into Nigeria Routine Immunization Schedule and Flag-off of the 2022 African Vaccination Week (AVW) in Abuja, the Minister of Well being, represented by the Director of Public Well being Dr Alex Okoh, mentioned the introduction of the life-saving rotavirus vaccine into the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) is vital as a result of it’s anticipated to avert over 110,000 deaths in underneath 5 kids within the subsequent 10 years.
She mentioned the Authorities of Nigeria with the help of our donors and companions spent enormous quantities of cash to acquire RI vaccines as a result of enhancing the well being of the youngsters stays a precedence.
“We urge dad and mom and caregivers to make the most of the privilege to make sure that their kids are vaccinated in opposition to all vaccine-preventable illnesses. We additionally acknowledge the position of conventional and spiritual leaders, dad and mom and caregivers, Major Well being Care (PHC) leaders on the sub-national stage and all healthcare employees throughout 40,000 amenities for his or her doggedness, in guaranteeing no Nigerian Baby is Left Behind in accessing potent vaccines and different PHC providers.
Moreover, the Government Director of NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib appreciated stakeholders, together with WHO, for the help in getting Nigeria to incorporate the rotavirus in its RI programme.
“We wish to congratulate stakeholders which have supported this occasion right this moment. With the launch of the rotavirus vaccine, each youngster will get the chance to obtain the vaccine with RI and we are able to cut back childhood mortality. Like all different vaccines, it’s free and secure and we urge dad and mom to current their kids to well being amenities to obtain their vaccines”, he mentioned.
Decreasing out-of-pocket expenditure
Rotavirus is a virus that causes diarrhoeal and different intestinal signs. It’s very contagious and is the most typical reason behind diarrhoea in infants and younger kids worldwide. Youngsters are anticipated to get the three doses of the vaccine orally, 1st dose at six weeks, 2nd and third at 10 and 14 weeks respectively.
In his welcome comment, the WHO Nation Consultant, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo commending the federal government for the introduction of the Rotavirus vaccine into the EPI Schedule mentioned it gives the chance to cut back the variety of kids dying on daily basis from diarrhoea illness attributable to rotavirus.
Dr Mulombo mentioned that the general public well being affect of rotavirus vaccine introduction has been demonstrated in a number of international locations with as a lot as 50% of deaths from diarrheal illnesses averted.
He mentioned the introduction is a part of the great technique to regulate diarrhoeal illnesses with the scaling up of each preventive and remedy packages as Nigeria is without doubt one of the 4 international locations that harbour roughly half the worldwide burden of the illness.
“Immunization stays essentially the most cost-effective public well being intervention. If we cease vaccination, lethal illnesses will return, and when individuals are not vaccinated, infectious illnesses which have change into unusual can shortly return. I wish to commend the efforts of the Authorities of Nigeria for conserving immunization excessive on the nationwide agenda”.
Let me guarantee you of WHO’s continued dedication to offering technical help to the introduction of the Rotavirus Vaccine into Nigeria’s Routine Immunization Schedule and certainly different well being interventions, he mentioned.
Mother and father aid
In the meantime, Sarah Obiye Albert, a mom of three, whose 6-weeks-old daughter benefited from the Rotavirus vaccination launch counseled the federal government for the initiative.
She mentioned this would cut back cash spent on immunization providers by a father or mother as she needed to pay to obtain the vaccine for her different two kids.
“We are saying thanks to the federal government for making the vaccine obtainable. As a mom, I’m grateful as a result of it will cut back the cash spent on remedy of a kid or accessing vaccination, she mentioned.
Equally, Kikelomo Lambo, a mom of two who attended the launch mentioned “right this moment is an efficient day because the introduction of the vaccine into the RI schedule would cut back the out-of-pocket expenditure spent on the vaccine.
“I paid N10, 000 per dose for my kids. This meant I paid N30, 000 for the three doses. That is excessive and lots of dad and mom can’t afford it. However with it being free now, many kids would profit from it and this may cut back loss of life or sickness from rotavirus illness, she mentioned.
Technical Contacts:
Dr Kelias Msyamboza; Electronic mail: msyambozak [at] who.int
Dr Jean Anne Baptiste; Electronic mail: jeana [at] who.int
