• Nigeria launched a nationwide campaign to vaccinate 106 million children against measles, rubella and polio by 2026.

• The campaign will roll out in two phases, starting in 20 northern states at high risk before expanding nationwide in January 2026.

• Nigeria remains free of wild polio since 2020 but faces outbreaks of type 2 poliovirus, measles and rubella.

Nigeria launched a campaign to vaccinate about 106 million children against measles, rubella and polio, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) statement issued on October 6. The initiative combines vaccines with other child health services to ensure effective delivery nationwide.

The campaign targets children aged 0 to 14 years for measles and rubella, and those aged 0 to 59 months for polio.

Authorities will implement the campaign in two phases. The first phase, launched October 6, covers 20 northern states identified as high risk. The second phase will begin in January 2026 and extend to the rest of the country.

“The country is also introducing a new combined measles and rubella vaccine to replace the single-dose measles vaccine,” the WHO said.

Nigeria has been polio-free since 2020 but remains exposed to circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2). The country recorded 94 cases across 15 states in 2024, compared with 51 cases in six states in 2023, according to UNICEF. No new cases had been confirmed as of February 2025.

Measles and rubella also remain a concern, with 297 cases reported in the first half of 2024. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, coordinates efforts with Cameroon, Niger, Chad and the Central African Republic under a cross-border plan to halt outbreaks by end-2025 and eliminate residual risks by end-2026.

The vaccination drive supports Nigeria’s broader campaign to cut child mortality. The under-five mortality rate fell from 201 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2003 to 110 deaths in the 2023–2024 Demographic and Health Survey.

The initiative also integrates routine immunization with essential child health services, including treatment for neglected tropical diseases and seasonal malaria chemoprevention in high-risk zones.

This article was initially published in French by Lydie Mobio

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum