The Federal Government spends approximately $150 million annually on vaccine procurement, according to Dr Muyi Aina, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA). He disclosed this during the agency's first quarterly media briefing for 2026 in Abuja, stating that funding comes from federal allocations and development partners like Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, though donor support is declining. Aina noted that vaccine financing covers procurement, outbreak response, logistics, syringes, waste management, incinerators, and cold chain equipment, with operational costs forming a significant part of the investment. On malaria vaccination, Nigeria has expanded rollout from pilot states Bayelsa and Kebbi to include Bauchi and Ondo, based on readiness assessments. The malaria vaccine requires a four-dose schedule, and ensuring full compliance remains a challenge. Doses administered so far include 68,000 in Bayelsa, 153,000 in Kebbi, 66,000 in Bauchi, and over 7,000 in Ondo. About 984,559 children received at least one dose in Bayelsa and Kebbi, 166,342 in Ondo, and 105,890 in Bauchi, bringing the total number of children reached to nearly 1.3 million. Aina said about 600,000 vaccine doses are currently stored in the national cold chain system. He emphasized that vaccines are among the safest and most cost-effective medical interventions, with benefits far outweighing risks. Vaccines undergo rigorous testing before approval, and their success often reduces disease visibility. Aina also disclosed that 48,372 women have accessed free maternal services nationwide, while 2,497 have received obstetric fistula repair through federal facilities and the National Health Insurance Authority.
Dr Muyi Aina highlights shrinking donor funding for vaccines while announcing continued expansion of malaria vaccination, raising questions about financial sustainability. The government is spending $150 million annually on vaccines yet still depends on external partners amid declining support. Nearly 1.3 million children have received at least one dose, but dropout rates between the four required doses remain a challenge. The push for domestic financing comes as the system struggles to ensure full compliance even in pilot states.
💡 NaijaBuzz is an AI-assisted news aggregator. This content is curated from third-party sources — NaijaBuzz is not the original publisher and is not responsible for the accuracy of source reporting. The NaijaBuzz Take is AI-assisted editorial opinion only, not established fact. All persons mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. NaijaBuzz does not endorse the views expressed in source articles.
