Nigerian Child Vaccination Schedule 2024

Growing children are very fragile and susceptible to several diseases. That is why it is important that babies receive vaccines from the very point of birth. Immunization or vaccination is the act of giving the child vaccines that would help fight and prevent infectious diseases.

Such diseases can hamper the child’s growth and result in deformed parts or even death. Immunization makes the child immune to such diseases by boosting their immune system, making it easier for the body to fight the diseases.

For babies and young children, immunization remains the safest and most effective way to protect them from diseases.

As most of the diseases that could affect them are very serious, the cure for them may not be suitable for children. Hence, it is better for them to be immune to those diseases in the first place. Also, some of the diseases have no cure, and the best chance against them is early immunization.

Immunization does not only help young children but the world at large as it leads to the gradual elimination of such diseases, making it difficult for the disease to spread, creating a healthier world through community immunity. As a parent, you should see to it that your child receives immunization when needed.

In Nigeria, immunization has been very helpful in controlling some of these diseases. Just recently, Nigeria was declared polio-free. What that means is that the disease no longer poses a threat as the country has had no polio case in the past 4 years. Such a feat was only gained through constant immunization for children.

That, however, did not start recently as it can all be traced to when the Expanded Immunization Programme was introduced in 1976. The aim of the program was to tackle the elimination of the polio disease, measles, yellow fever, and so on, through immunization.

Today, the story has changed a little, and the gains of all that effort are very obvious. Children receive immunization against hepatitis, mumps, chickenpox, measles, and so on. Below, we would be looking at some of these diseases.

Polio: A very infectious disease, polio causes paralysis, which can render their arms or legs useless, making it difficult for them to live their lives independently. It is also very contagious, being able to spread through contaminated water or food. The polio vaccine is readily available in Nigeria.

Hepatitis: This is an infection of the liver, marked by an inflammation, usually caused by a virus. The most common types to affect children are Hepatitis A and B.

Yellow Fever: This is an infection caused by a certain type of mosquito commonly found in Africa and South America. The bite comes with a very high fever and could also cause liver damage, affecting other internal organs as well.

Mumps: This disease is caused by a virus and leads fever, muscle aches and could even lead to swelling of the salivary glands.

Typhoid Fever: this is another disease that could be fatal if left untreated. It is caused by the salmonella bacteria which could be passed by humans, who then contaminate food and water. It is usually common in dirty places. You can learn more about the typhoid vaccine in Nigeria.