It is not a secret that babies are born with underdeveloped immune systems, making them more vulnerable to infections. Millions of children globally remain unvaccinated, and as a result, significant illness and death that could be prevented with increased vaccine coverage.
There are various vaccines. As an example, we can take one of the most contagious and deadly disease — measles. In 2018, measles took the lives of 140,000 people worldwide, with the majority of these deaths occurring among children under the age of 5. By 2022, measles cases surged by 79%, driven primarily by declining vaccination rates. Countries such as Somalia, Nigeria, and India, where vaccination coverage remains low, have been particularly affected, experiencing severe outbreaks that have resulted in a significant number of child fatalities. These trends underscore the urgent need for improved global vaccination efforts to prevent further loss of life from this preventable disease.
For countries like Kenya and Nigeria, another important vaccine is present — malaria vaccination. It remains a major public health issue in both, with significant impacts on vulnerable populations, particularly children under five. In Kenya, approximately 70% of the population is at risk, with around 3.6 million cases and 10,000 deaths reported annually. Nigeria, however, bears the highest global burden, accounting for 27% of the world’s malaria cases and 32% of malaria-related deaths, with over 200,000 deaths and 58 million cases in 2021. Despite ongoing efforts to provide bed nets, insecticide treatments, and preventive therapies, both countries face challenges such as low healthcare access and treatment resistance, making malaria a persistent threat.
Vaccination of children in Kenya and Nigeria is a critical public health priority, with both countries working to improve immunization coverage and prevent the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Kenya
Kenya has made significant progress in child vaccination, with the Ministry of Health implementing widespread immunization programs aimed at reducing childhood mortality. Key vaccines administered include:
❥ BCG (against tuberculosis)
❥ Pentavalent vaccine (against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type B)
❥ Measles and Rubell
❥ Polio (part of the global effort to eradicate polio)
❥ Pneumococcal and Rotavirus vaccines (to protect against pneumonia and diarrheal diseases)
The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) has been successful in increasing vaccine coverage. However, some challenges remain, particularly in rural and remote areas where access to healthcare services is limited, and vaccine hesitancy exists in certain communities due to misinformation or cultural beliefs. Kenya has also rolled out campaigns for newer vaccines, such as the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer, and the malaria vaccine in certain regions.
Nigeria
In Nigeria, child vaccination efforts face more significant hurdles, primarily due to logistical, infrastructural, and socio-cultural challenges. Despite this, the government, along with international partners like the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, is working to improve immunization rates. Key vaccines administered include:
❥ BCG
❥ Polio (Oral and Injectable)
❥ Pentavalent vaccine
❥ Measles
❥ Pneumococcal and Rotavirus vaccines
Despite this success, other vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and diphtheria remain concerns, as vaccination coverage is still not universal. High population density, healthcare access disparities, vaccine hesitancy, and security issues in certain northern regions, especially due to militant activities, further hinder vaccination campaigns.
The importance of vaccinating your baby
While vaccines are one of the most effective ways to protect your baby from life-threatening diseases, a significant lack of information and widespread misinformation about vaccines continues to create confusion and hesitancy among parents
Vaccines are designed to protect your baby from dangerous diseases such as measles, polio, pneumonia, and whooping cough, which can have devastating consequences, especially in young children. Without vaccines, your baby is at risk of contracting illnesses that could lead to severe complications or even death.
In recent years, we have seen a resurgence of diseases like measles in areas with low vaccination rates. Failing to vaccinate babies leads to outbreaks that can quickly spiral out of control, endangering entire communities. Vaccinating your child helps stop the spread of these preventable diseases.
The lack of information and spread of vaccine misinformation should not deter parents from vaccinating their babies. Vaccines save lives and are critical in preventing diseases that can cause serious harm to children. By vaccinating your baby, you are protecting their future and contributing to the overall health of your community. It’s essential to seek out reliable information from trusted health sources and ensure your child is vaccinated according to national immunization schedules.
There are various vaccines. As an example, we can take one of the most contagious and deadly disease — measles. In 2018, measles took the lives of 140,000 people worldwide, with the majority of these deaths occurring among children under the age of 5. By 2022, measles cases surged by 79%, driven primarily by declining vaccination rates. Countries such as Somalia, Nigeria, and India, where vaccination coverage remains low, have been particularly affected, experiencing severe outbreaks that have resulted in a significant number of child fatalities. These trends underscore the urgent need for improved global vaccination efforts to prevent further loss of life from this preventable disease.
For countries like Kenya and Nigeria, another important vaccine is present — malaria vaccination. It remains a major public health issue in both, with significant impacts on vulnerable populations, particularly children under five. In Kenya, approximately 70% of the population is at risk, with around 3.6 million cases and 10,000 deaths reported annually. Nigeria, however, bears the highest global burden, accounting for 27% of the world’s malaria cases and 32% of malaria-related deaths, with over 200,000 deaths and 58 million cases in 2021. Despite ongoing efforts to provide bed nets, insecticide treatments, and preventive therapies, both countries face challenges such as low healthcare access and treatment resistance, making malaria a persistent threat.
Vaccination of children in Kenya and Nigeria is a critical public health priority, with both countries working to improve immunization coverage and prevent the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Kenya
Kenya has made significant progress in child vaccination, with the Ministry of Health implementing widespread immunization programs aimed at reducing childhood mortality. Key vaccines administered include:
❥ BCG (against tuberculosis)
❥ Pentavalent vaccine (against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type B)
❥ Measles and Rubell
❥ Polio (part of the global effort to eradicate polio)
❥ Pneumococcal and Rotavirus vaccines (to protect against pneumonia and diarrheal diseases)
The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) has been successful in increasing vaccine coverage. However, some challenges remain, particularly in rural and remote areas where access to healthcare services is limited, and vaccine hesitancy exists in certain communities due to misinformation or cultural beliefs. Kenya has also rolled out campaigns for newer vaccines, such as the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer, and the malaria vaccine in certain regions.
Nigeria
In Nigeria, child vaccination efforts face more significant hurdles, primarily due to logistical, infrastructural, and socio-cultural challenges. Despite this, the government, along with international partners like the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, is working to improve immunization rates. Key vaccines administered include:
❥ BCG
❥ Polio (Oral and Injectable)
❥ Pentavalent vaccine
❥ Measles
❥ Pneumococcal and Rotavirus vaccines
Despite this success, other vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and diphtheria remain concerns, as vaccination coverage is still not universal. High population density, healthcare access disparities, vaccine hesitancy, and security issues in certain northern regions, especially due to militant activities, further hinder vaccination campaigns.
The importance of vaccinating your baby
While vaccines are one of the most effective ways to protect your baby from life-threatening diseases, a significant lack of information and widespread misinformation about vaccines continues to create confusion and hesitancy among parents
Vaccines are designed to protect your baby from dangerous diseases such as measles, polio, pneumonia, and whooping cough, which can have devastating consequences, especially in young children. Without vaccines, your baby is at risk of contracting illnesses that could lead to severe complications or even death.
In recent years, we have seen a resurgence of diseases like measles in areas with low vaccination rates. Failing to vaccinate babies leads to outbreaks that can quickly spiral out of control, endangering entire communities. Vaccinating your child helps stop the spread of these preventable diseases.
The lack of information and spread of vaccine misinformation should not deter parents from vaccinating their babies. Vaccines save lives and are critical in preventing diseases that can cause serious harm to children. By vaccinating your baby, you are protecting their future and contributing to the overall health of your community. It’s essential to seek out reliable information from trusted health sources and ensure your child is vaccinated according to national immunization schedules.