By Audu Abba Kurama, Maiduguri
Millions of children in Borno and Yobe states will be immunized against the polio virus in a new UNICEF-supported vaccination campaign.
To commemorate the 2025 World Immunization Week, UNICEF and other stakeholders are supporting Borno and Yobe state government with more than 3.5million vaccine doses.
Meanwhile Catherine Russel, UNICEF Executive Director has called for increased commitment and investment in routine immunization.
She said this in a joint statement issued by Gavi, UNICEF and the World Health Organization in commemoration of the 2025 World Immunization Week.
“The global funding crisis is severely limiting our ability to vaccinate over 15 million vulnerable children in fragile and conflict-affected countries against measles,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
“Immunization services, disease surveillance, and the outbreak response in nearly 50 countries are already being disrupted—with setbacks at a similar level to what we saw during COVID-19. We cannot afford to lose ground in the fight against preventable diseases.”
The statement further warned about the resurgence of measles, diphtheria and other vaccine preventable diseases.
“Vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives over the past five decades,” said WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“Funding cuts to global health have put these hard-won gains in jeopardy. Outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases are increasing around the world, putting lives at risk and exposing countries to increased costs in treating diseases and responding to outbreaks. Countries with limited resources must invest in the highest-impact interventions – and that includes vaccines.”
UNICEF, others support Borno and Yobe with 3.5 million polio vaccine doses
The Borno and Yobe state governments have taken delivery of over 3.5 million doses of the polio vaccines.
The vaccines which are donated by UNICEF and other partners will provide millions of children in northeast Nigeria with protection against the polio virus.
While Borno State Government received 2,534, 037 doses of the polio vaccines for the 2025 World Immunization Campaign, children in Yobe State will benefit from 1,291,501 vaccines.
Meanwhile, a joint press release by UNICEF, World Health Organization (WHO) and Gavi has called for the strengthening of routine immunization structures and better political commitment to the eradication of vaccine-preventable diseases.
“Vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives over the past five decades,” said WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Funding cuts to global health have put these hard-won gains in jeopardy. Outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases are increasing around the world, putting lives at risk and exposing countries to increased costs in treating diseases and responding to outbreaks. Countries with limited resources must invest in the highest-impact interventions – and that includes vaccines.”
According to the UNICEF Chief, vaccines save 4.2 million lives annually, against 14 diseases.
“The global funding crisis is severely limiting our ability to vaccinate over 15 million vulnerable children in fragile and conflict-affected countries against measles,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
“Immunization services, disease surveillance, and the outbreak response in nearly 50 countries are already being disrupted—with setbacks at a similar level to what we saw during COVID-19. We cannot afford to lose ground in the fight against preventable diseases.”
