UNICEF: Nigeria Tops Global List for Unvaccinated Children
At a media dialogue in Yobe State to mark World Immunisation Week 2025, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) revealed that Nigeria has the world’s highest number of “zero-dose” (ZD) children, those who have not received any routine vaccinations. Out of 8.7 million children under one year old, 2.1 million (24%) remain unvaccinated.
UNICEF Health Officer Bashir Elegbede emphasized that these vulnerable children are often located in conflict zones, climate-affected regions, remote areas, slums, and places with weak health systems. These children face high risks from vaccine-preventable diseases like polio, measles, meningitis, yellow fever, and hepatitis.
UNICEF, in collaboration with the Nigerian government and health stakeholders, is taking action:
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In Yobe State, 20,000 ZD children were vaccinated in 2024.
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In Borno State, 145,000 ZD children have been reached.
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Across the northeast, 138,000 children (95%) were vaccinated during the March 2025 round of the Big Catch-Up campaign, with more to come in April.
UNICEF’s Volunteer Community Mobilisers have also cut routine immunisation non-compliance in Yobe to below 1%.
Elegbede stressed: “Vaccination for all is humanly possible.”
Traditional leaders, including the Emir of Damaturu (represented by the Waziri), have pledged ongoing support to ensure every child is reached.
