Nigeria is expanding its malaria vaccination programme into additional states as part of a renewed effort to reduce the country’s high malaria burden, even as declining donor support and rising operational costs place increasing pressure on the immunisation system.
The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Muyi Aina, disclosed this during the agency’s first quarterly media briefing for 2026 held in Abuja.
According to him, the rollout has progressed beyond its initial pilot phase in Bayelsa and Kebbi states and now includes Bauchi and Ondo, following readiness assessments. The expansion is part of a broader strategy to integrate malaria vaccination into routine immunisation services in high-burden areas.
Funding for the programme currently comes from both federal government allocations and development partners, particularly Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. However, Aina warned that external support is gradually declining.
“Countries are now expected to increase domestic financing as global donor resources continue to shrink,” he said.
He explained that vaccine financing extends beyond procurement to include logistics and infrastructure such as syringes, waste management systems, incinerators, and cold chain equipment.
“Vaccine financing covers procurement, outbreak-response, as well as logistics including syringes, waste management systems, incinerators, and cold chain equipment,” he said.
He also noted that operational costs for delivering immunisation services nationwide represent a significant portion of government expenditure.
Despite progress, the malaria vaccine presents a unique challenge due to its four-dose schedule, which requires consistent follow-up to ensure full protection.
“What is unique about the malaria vaccine is that it requires four doses, and ensuring children return for all doses remains a key challenge,” Aina said.
Dropouts between doses have become a major concern, prompting efforts to strengthen tracking systems and follow-up mechanisms across implementing states.
Providing updates on coverage, Aina said:
“In the area of coverage, a total of 984,559 children have received at least one dose in Kebbi and Bayelsa, while Ondo recorded more than 166,342 children and Bauchi 105,890.
“This brings the total number of children reached to almost 1.3 million,” he said.
He added that over 600,000 doses are currently stored in the national cold chain system for ongoing and future distribution.
Aina described vaccines as one of the most effective and cost-efficient public health interventions, emphasising their safety.
“Vaccines are much safer and much cheaper than most medicines people buy in stores or use for malaria treatment,” he said.
He further noted that vaccines undergo rigorous testing before approval.
“Vaccines are highly effective in preventing diseases such as measles. Its success often leads to reduced visibility of such diseases in communities,” he emphasised.
He added, “While all medical interventions, including food and medicines, may have side effects, vaccines remained among the most thoroughly tested and safest preventive tools.”
He called for sustained public trust in immunisation programmes and health workers, noting ongoing investments in staffing and incentives to improve service delivery.
