The Kano State government has launched a large-scale vaccination campaign targeting over 4.1 million children under five across the state, with special attention on 15 Local Government Areas (LGAs) identified as high-priority zones.
The government said the initiative is part of ongoing efforts to boost children's immunity and prevent the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases such as polio and measles.
The State Immunization Officer, Haj. Saadatu Ibrahim revealed that “there is a resurgence of circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPVs) in the state.”
cVDPV is a type of poliovirus that arises from the oral polio vaccine (OPV), used in the prevention of polio.
Haj. Saadatu revealed that 15 focus LGAs have been selected based on past data showing low compliance and vaccine uptake, often fueled by persistent misinformation surrounding immunization.
She added that the exercise will be extended across the 44 local government areas, involving thousands of health workers and volunteers.
She identified challenges of “hard-to-reach settlements, missing houses, zero-dose vaccination, and poor healthcare workers” as major setbacks.
“The government has a renewed strategy to overcome the challenges, including a new method of recruiting immunization workers and the involvement of external supervisors and the media to reshape public perception and encourage wider acceptance of the vaccines," Haj. Saadatu said.
According to her, media professionals are being trained to use their platforms effectively to educate communities and counteract the harmful narratives that have hindered past vaccination efforts.
Speaking during the dialogue on polio and routine immunization in Kano, Haj. Saadatu said this year’s exercise is seen as a critical step toward achieving herd immunity and ensuring that “Kano remains free of vaccine-preventable outbreaks.
According to her, the campaign will be executed in phases to ensure every child in the state is reached.
Haj. Saadatu urged the parents and guardians to support the campaign by allowing health workers to vaccinate their children, emphasizing that immunization remains one of the most effective ways to protect children from life-threatening diseases.
So far, 18 cases have been reported across Nigeria this year, with three in Kano's Warawa, Bunkure, and Nassarawa LGAs.
A polio vaccination campaign is scheduled for April 24-30, 2025, coinciding with World Immunization Week. UNICEF is collaborating with the state government to raise awareness and mobilise parents.
