The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on the Bauchi State Government to prioritise full immunization coverage for every child, warning that thousands remain vulnerable to preventable diseases.
The Chief of UNICEF Field Office in Bauchi, Nuzhat Rafique, made the call during the state-level commemoration of the 2026 World Immunization Week held in Bauchi.
She described vaccines as the most effective protection against preventable diseases, noting that outbreaks still threaten communities despite decades of progress.
“Completing the full immunisation schedule not only protects individual children but also safeguards entire communities,” she said.
Rafique emphasised that vaccination remains one of the simplest yet most powerful tools for saving lives, adding that vaccines have saved millions globally due to the commitment of parents and caregivers.
She listed diseases prevented through immunisation to include measles, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, and rotavirus, while noting that newer vaccines now target malaria, HPV, cholera, dengue, meningitis, RSV, Ebola, and monkeypox. Some of these, she said, have already been piloted successfully in Bauchi State.
However, she expressed concern over widening immunisation gaps, revealing that more than 20 million children globally missed at least one vaccine dose in 2024.
“In Bauchi State, only 51.4 per cent of children are fully vaccinated, about 40 per cent have never received any vaccine, while roughly 10 to 11 per cent are partially vaccinated. This means only half of the state’s children are fully protected, leaving many vulnerable to preventable diseases,” she said.
To address the gaps, Rafique called for strengthened routine immunisation systems, expanded outreach to hard-to-reach communities, and greater engagement of religious, traditional, and community leaders. She also stressed the need to combat misinformation and ensure consistent vaccine availability across health facilities.
She noted that the recent provision of motorcycles, supported by Global Affairs Canada, would improve access to remote areas and enhance vaccine delivery.
Rafique further highlighted the critical role of the media in promoting accurate information, countering misinformation, and building public trust in immunisation.
She reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to supporting Bauchi State through healthcare worker training, revitalisation of primary healthcare centres, integration of immunisation with maternal and child health services, and expansion of mobile outreach efforts.
Also speaking, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Health and Social Welfare, Sani Mohammed Dambam, said the government remains committed to safeguarding the health of its citizens. He disclosed that the state paid over ₦800 million as counterpart funding for immunisation in 2025.
World Immunization Week is observed annually from April 24 to 30 to promote the use of vaccines in protecting people of all ages. The 2026 theme is “For Every Generation, Vaccines Work.”
