Nigeria has world’s highest number of zero-dose children – UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said that Nigeria had the highest global burden of zero-dose (ZD) children, with an estimated 2.1 million children under the age of one not having received any routine vaccinations.

UNICEF noted that Borno and Yobe States accounted for a disproportionate number of these unvaccinated children.

Speaking during a one-day media dialogue in Damaturu to mark the 2025 World Immunisation Day, UNICEF Health Officer, Bashir Elegbede, highlighted the critical gaps in immunisation coverage across Nigeria’s North-East.

He said, “The under-one population in Nigeria is estimated at 8.7 million, with 2.1 million of them (24 per cent) classified as ZD children. This highlights that Nigeria bears the highest global burden of ZD children. Reducing the number of zero-dose children—those who have not received any routine vaccination—is crucial for improving public health outcomes in Nigeria.”

Elegbede disclosed that around 400,000 children aged one and above have not received any form of vaccination across the North-East region. He attributed the high number of ZD children to factors including conflict, climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic, hard-to-reach areas, pastoral communities, urban outskirts, slums, and regions grappling with systemic health challenges.

Read also: UNICEF calls for increased support to ensure every child gets lifesaving vaccines

“These children are mostly found in locations affected by conflict, climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic, geographic hard-to-reach, pastoral, urban outskirt and slums, including areas with existing health systems challenges—supply, finance, monitoring, data quality, capacity building, human resources, session interruptions, etc.,” he said.

He warned that unvaccinated children are significantly more vulnerable to life-threatening diseases.

“Children not immunised have been seen to have a relatively high risk of being infected and succumbing to vaccine-preventable diseases like polio, measles, meningitis, yellow fever, and viral hepatitis, among others,” Elegbede stated.

The global target, according to him, is to reduce the number of ZD children by 25 percent by 2025 and by 50 percent by 2030.

He stressed the importance of vaccines as a foundational health measure: “Across the world, millions of lives have been saved by vaccines. Globally, sadly, Nigeria has the highest burden of ZD children. A number estimated to be 2.1 million as of 2023.

“With Borno and Yobe States having a disproportionate number of these children. UNICEF, alongside stakeholders in the health sector, has continued to work with the government to reduce the number of ZD children through improvement of routine immunisation coverage and approaches that strengthen the health systems across Nigeria.”

Elegbede commended the efforts of UNICEF’s Volunteer Community Mobilisers, particularly in Yobe, where they have reduced non-compliance with routine immunisation to under one per cent.

He said, “In Borno State, UNICEF’s intervention has successfully reached 145,000 ZD children across prioritised local government areas. Furthermore, an additional 165,000 ZD children throughout the northeastern region have been earmarked for Big Catch-Up campaigns scheduled for March and April 2025, with the aim of maximising their protection against vaccine-preventable diseases. A total of 138,000 (95 per cent) of these children were successfully vaccinated during the BCU conducted in March 2025, while the third round is anticipated to conclude in April 2025.”

As the World Immunisation Week draws to a close, he called for renewed commitment to vaccine equity.

“As we mark the World Immunisation Week, which ends tomorrow, let us be reminded that immunisation remains one of humanity’s greatest and most effective achievements. We should take advantage to safeguard the precious lives of our children and countrymen and women. Vaccines ensure fewer diseases and more life. A vaccine for one among us is for our collective protection. Not everyone has the same access to life-saving vaccines. However, the Nigerian government and partners are striving to address these inequities. Vaccination for all is humanly possible.”