According to Dr. Tanimu Yakubu, Director General of the Budget Office, Nigeria, which has the second-largest number of children who have not received any vaccinations, faces a significant annual funding deficit of $200 million, hindering its immunization efforts.
Dr. Yakubu made this announcement in Abuja on Wednesday during the Multi-Stakeholders Technical Workshop aimed at Optimizing Immunization Financing in Nigeria, which was organized by the Vaccine Network for Disease Control in collaboration with GAVI and the Global Health Advocacy Initiative.
The Pediatric Association of Nigeria reports that the country is home to 2.2 million of the 4.4 million zero-dose children in West Africa. These zero-dose children are those who have not received even one dose of any vaccine from the routine national immunization schedule.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recognizes vaccines as one of the most significant advancements in global health and development, noting their effectiveness in safely reducing the incidence of diseases such as polio and measles and eradicating smallpox, while also ensuring children grow up healthy and happy.
Numerous childhood diseases that can be prevented through vaccination include influenza, malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea, tuberculosis, polio, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and measles.
Dr. Yakubu stressed the importance of increasing public sector funding to close the financial gaps in immunization.
“Nigeria faces an annual funding gap of $200m out of the required $580m for immunisation.
“However, considering the public sector’s contribution of only $150m, the actual funding gap is more significant,” Yakubu noted.
He pointed out that without support from international donors like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, the gap would reach $430 million, underscoring the country’s dependence on foreign aid.
“I urge the public sector to increase its financial contribution to justify asking the private sector to do more,” he urged.
The Director General of the Budget Office also suggested implementing legislation that would require the public sector to attain self-sufficiency in the production, storage, and distribution of vaccines, in line with the current administration’s objectives of import substitution, medical industrialization, and overall industrial development.
To tackle the funding deficit, Dr. Yakubu proposed increasing public sector funding to cover the $200 million shortfall, addressing the broader funding gap of $430 million, and utilizing public-private partnerships to create local vaccine production capabilities.
“By taking these steps, we can ensure sustainable immunisation financing and protect our population from future pandemics,” he stressed.
The Chairman of the 9th Senate Committee on Health, Sen. Ibrahim Oloriegbe, highlighted the importance of prioritising immunisation in Nigeria’s budget allocation.
Oloriegbe stated, “Immunisation is not only a health issue but also an economic and security issue. Investing in immunisation can save lives, reduce healthcare costs, and increase productivity.”
He explained the need to address the funding gap for immunisation, which currently stands at $200m, and proposed increasing funding for immunisation in the budget, exploring ways to increase revenue generation, and reactivating the bio-vaccine initiative to achieve self-sufficiency in vaccine production.
“Legislators have a critical role to play in ensuring that immunisation receives adequate funding. We must work together to prioritise immunisation and make it a national priority,” Oloriegbe said.
He further recommended removing counterpart funding for vaccines from the current supply chain and prioritising immunisation in budget allocation.
“Let’s work together to make immunisation a national priority and ensure that our citizens receive the necessary vaccines to prevent diseases,” Oloriegbe added.
Dr. Emmanuel Hassan, Nigeria Coordinator for the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, warned that Nigeria faces a critical vaccine immunization financing crisis, with unpaid 2023 obligations and upcoming June 2024 payments.
He urged immediate action to settle outstanding payments, stressing, “Health is a crucial aspect of our nation’s wealth, and immunisation is a key pathway to enhancing the health and well-being of all Nigerians.”
Senator Tony Nwoye, Deputy Chairman of the Senate Committee on Primary Health Care and Disease Control, called for the federal government to release counterpart funding for immunization programs to combat vaccine-preventable diseases.
At the Multistakeholder Technical Workshop, Senator Nwoye emphasized immunization’s role in saving lives and urged collaboration to bridge funding gaps, enhance coverage, strengthen accountability, and ensure sustainable financing.
He also advocated for local vaccine production, stating, “Nigeria’s future depends on a healthy population, and a healthy country is a wealthy country.” The VNDC CEO expressed confidence that Nigeria can overcome vaccine challenges with adequate funding.
The workshop, titled “Closing the Immunisation Financing Gap: Investing in a Healthier Future for Nigeria,” convened a diverse group of stakeholders, including government representatives, international organizations, and private sector entities, to explore and discuss effective strategies for enhancing and optimizing immunization financing in Nigeria.
