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  • Mpox: Gavi secures 500,000 doses of vaccines for Africa

    Mpox: Gavi secures 500,000 doses of vaccines for Africa

    Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance has secured 500,000 doses of Mpox vaccine to be supplied to countries in Africa impacted by the Mpox outbreak, it emerged on Wednesday, September 18.

    The doses will be for delivery in 2024.

    Nigeria recently received a donation of 10,000 doses of Jynneos, a Mpox vaccine, from the United States government.

    According to the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), since the beginning of this year, as of the end of week 35th, a total of 26,544 cases of which 5,732 were confirmed and 724 deaths have been reported from 15 African Union (AU) member States across all five regions of Africa.

    The case fatality rate (CFR) for the continent stands at 2.73%.

    Within the same period, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reported 67 confirmed cases from 1,031 suspected cases across 47 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 23 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The country has yet to record any fatality so far, even as one suspected case was recorded in all the States of the Federation and the FCT except Borno State.

    In an advisory by Gavi on Wednesday, the vaccine was secured through an agreement with the Bavarian Nordic to rapidly secure the vaccines for Africa with the advance purchase agreement (APA) to be funded by Gavi’s First Response Fund.

    The Gavi’s First Response Fund was created after the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure rapid access to scarce vaccine supplies in future health emergencies.

    According to the advisory, the MVA-BN vaccine received prequalification from the WHO on September 13, and Bavarian Nordic will be ready to supply the vaccines pending the signing of a supply agreement with UNICEF, Gavi’s alliance partner, which will be delivering these doses.

    “The First Response Fund was designed in collaboration with Gavi donors and partners specifically to provide rapid early funding for emergencies such as Mpox.

    Read Also: Akwa Ibom records five cases of Mpox

    “Using it today to fund the first direct transaction for vaccines in support of equitable access and the global response, just over a month since Mpox was declared a public health emergency, takes us a long way towards our goal of protecting those most at risk.

    “We are committed to working with affected governments and our partners to turn these vaccines into vaccinations as quickly and effectively as possible and, over time, to build a global vaccine stockpile if sufficient funding is secured for Gavi’s work through 2030.

    “We thank our donors for enabling us to act rapidly by committing funds to the First Response Fund before an emergency occurred,” Sania Nishtar, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance was quoted as saying.

    Paul Chaplin, the president & CEO of Bavarian Nordic, said: “The doses secured through this agreement will significantly increase the availability of Mpox vaccines for African countries, and we are pleased that Gavi has selected our MVA-BN vaccine, which has proven highly effective during the global Mpox outbreak in 2022.”

    MVA-BN or Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic is the only non-replicating mpox vaccine approved in the U.S., Switzerland Singapore, Canada, the EU/EAA, and the United Kingdom.

    Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private partnership that helps vaccinate more than half the world’s children against some of the world’s deadliest diseases.

    The Vaccine Alliance brings together developing countries and donor governments, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and other private sector partners. View the full list of donor governments and other leading organizations that fund Gavi’s work here.

    Since its inception in 2000, Gavi has helped to immunize a whole generation of over 1 billion children and prevented more than 17.3 million future deaths, helping to halve child mortality in 78 lower-income countries (LICs).

  • FG unveils plan for local vaccines production

    FG unveils plan for local vaccines production

    The Federal government’s efforts to attain local vaccine production and reduce dependence on imported vaccines have been significantly boosted with the launch of the National Plan for Vaccine Research and Development and Local Production on Friday.

    Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, while highlighting the anticipated significance of the project in facilitating the operationalization of vaccine development, emphasized that it would provide a blueprint for the entire process of vaccine production within the country.

    Alausa observed that the National Plan was meticulously crafted through an innovative bottom-up methodology, ensuring that the results of the efforts would be highly beneficial in complementing the National Vaccine Policy.

    During the unveiling of the Plan in Abuja on Friday, Alausa revealed that the project was the result of a year-long collaboration between the European Union, the Bulgarian Government, and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) on behalf of the Nigerian Government.

    Alausa applauded the NIPRD for spearheading the project and expressed confidence that with the support of both local and international partners, Nigeria’s endeavors in the thematic areas would swiftly progress.

    Read Also: WHO: COVID-19 vaccines save 1.4m lives in Europe

    “Even as you have now moved to support the next phase of this project, which will lead us to look at domesticating vaccine production”, added.  

    On behalf of the Bulgarian Government, the Bulgarian Ambassador to Nigeria, Yanko Yordanov, commended Nigeria through the Ministry of Health for the opportunity to be part of the nation’s critical health initiative.

    The envoy promised further support and collaboration from his government to facilitate in-depth research activities in Nigeria.

    Ambassador Samuela Isopi, represented by Prof Ben Amor Mathieu, appreciated the Plan’s strong alignment with the priorities of the European Union while commending NIPRD for its timely intervention and endeavors to establish Nigeria as a hub for medicine production in the African sub-region.

    Earlier in his remark, the Director-General of NIPRD, Obi Adigwe, reassured that with appropriate support and prioritization, the Institute could facilitate the establishment of up to three vaccine plants in Nigeria within the duration of the plan.

    While commending the Federal government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the confidence reposed in the Institute, Adigwe also expressed appreciation for the necessary support given to the Institute to perform optimally in the spirit of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

  • Fed Govt to unveil HPV vaccines

    Fed Govt to unveil HPV vaccines

    Federal Government yesterday said it will unveil Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines to prevent cervical cancer September 25.

    It said administration of HPV vaccine to girls between nine and 15 will prevent them from contracting the cancer.

    The Federal Government urged Christian and Muslim leaders to raise awareness about the vaccines, dispel myths and misconceptions, and encourage members to embrace better health behaviour.

     Speaking at the Bi-Annual Review Meeting of Religious Leaders on Primary Health Care (PHC) Delivery, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Muhammad Pate, represented by his Senior Special Adviser, Dr. Emmanuel Odu, said: “I acknowledge contributions of our faith community to healthcare, as we are aware religious organisations provide healthcare at primary, secondary and tertiary level. This is commendable.

    Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, said: “In our desire to reach every corner, we acknowledge the role religious leaders play. They possess the power to disseminate critical information that can  influence behaviour, dispel myths and encourage preventive practice.

    Read Also: Isese: Court summons IGP over detained Kwara traditionalists

    “Concerning progress on cervical cancer, caused by Human papillomavirus (HPV), on September 25, we’ll introduce HPV vaccine which prevents this cancer when given to girls of nine to 15 years…’’

    President-General of Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar III, said: “When we are talking about health of our people, you must talk about how to feed the common man. Without food no drug will work. Government must face this reality.

     National President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, added: “We are delighted primary health care is getting the attention it deserves. More importantly, religious leaders are given opportunity to dialogue by way of reviewing what is happening. Even on health issues, Nigerians listen to religious leaders before doctors, even the government.’’

    “Our places of worship have been used for sensitization, for administering vaccines and our health facilities have been in collaboration with the government for a very long time now, especially for primary health care.

     “With initiatives like this, we are optimistic that improved healthcare will be made accessible to those who before now have been far from it, especially those in the rural areas. We pray that this bi-annual meeting carries out the objective of the government aimed at providing healthcare to all Nigerians. We recommend that we continue this kind of collaboration.”  

  • ‘Why we can’t produce vaccines locally’

    ‘Why we can’t produce vaccines locally’

    Professor Oyewale Tomori is a member, United States Academy of Medicine, President, Nigeria Academy of Science, Pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Redeemers University, (RUN) and Lassa Fever Committee Chairman. In this interview with Omolara Akintoye, the renowned Professor of Virology explains how government is using disease outbreaks as panic opportunity to generate funds. Excerpts

    AS the Lassa Fever Control Committee Chairman, what would you say is responsible for its recent re-occurrence?

    What we have is not strictly a recurrence. Lassa fever is endemic in Nigeria and we are seeing a higher number of cases over a longer period of time. We still have our dry season peaks. Some of the challenges that keep bringing back such disease outbreak could be government’s inability to handle and follow up on success, using disease outbreaks as panic opportunity to generate funds.

    What solutions could be proffered?

    I think we are seeing increased contact between rodents and man leading to the spread of the disease. With increasing movement of people into unplanned cities, coupled with our inability to keep our environment clean, sanitation has gone to the dogs and we are getting filthier and filthier by the day as our cities are turned to refuse dumps and garbage heaps.  Rodents love such environment, and now bold to even invade the office of our President. Some of these rodents will include members of the mastomys species, which are well known for their prodigious fecundity. These rodents with hairless tails, large ears,  small eyes, pointed snout and seven to 12 pairs of teats, mature sexually early in life. With a gestation period of 23 days, they can have 12 litters per year, that is, every month, with 9-13 baby mastomys per litter.  In real time figures, one mother mastomys can produce between 98 and 156 babies in one year, So in the friendly environment of filth created in our cities, these rodents can easily overrun our cities invading our kitchens, restaurants, offices and contaminating every space with their Lassa virus laden excreta. So we need to carry out a vigorous rodent control programme and keep our environment clean.

    Lack of vaccine is said to be a major cause of Lassa fever re-occurrence, why are we not producing vaccines locally?

    Lack of vaccine is actually not a major cause of Lassa fever recurrence. The major cause is as stated above. We are seeing more frequent rodent-man contact with increasing contamination of our environment with Lassa virus laden excreta. Yes, indeed there is currently no licensed vaccine against Lassa fever, but there are a few candidate vaccines which have not gone through human vaccine trials. Only the Veterinary Research Institute in Vom, Jos currently produces vaccines locally. The federal government has just signed a partnership agreement with May and Baker Company to produce vaccines locally. I am sure the vaccine against Lassa fever is not on the priority list of this new venture.

    Report says research centres in our tertiary institutions are lagging behind in this area, why?

    Why not? Of course they will continue to lag behind so long as we do not provide the resources for them to function and make use of the talents of available human resources. Each day we see clear evidence that we are not yet ready for progress and development- government is unable to fulfil its agreement with ASUU, so ASUU goes on indefinite strike action, NMA gives notice of strike, JAMB and/or universities fix the university admission cut off at 30%. And we want to produce vaccine? We are more likely to produce poisons!

    What does it take to produce vaccines?

    Vaccine production takes more than what we are currently prepared and willing to give or sacrifice. It takes cutting edge research. It takes a national commitment to consider health a security issue. It takes availability of basic amenities and infrastructures. It takes constant electricity. It takes transparency and accountability. More than that, it takes patriotism and national pride.

    As the elected International member of U.S National Academy of Medicine in recognition of your leadership role for establishing the African Regional Polio laboratory Network, how has it been?

    Gratitude to God and an appreciation of the contribution and opportunities offered by my country as I grew up and had the best education from primary through the university level. I am always proud to say that I am a Nigerian educated person, starting and completing ALL my studies in Nigeria. Yes, I took some time off on study leave and sabbaticals, but the cake was all baked in Nigeria. The overseas trips were mere and thin icing on the solid cake. My country offered me this unique opportunity at a time when we had more sense than oil, when leaders were accountable and cared for the citizens…..not now, not now.

    How can we improve the health sector?

    We have the right calibre of trained human resources; we have only refused to create a conducive environment to enable our human resources to function effectively. I remember in the early days of my career at the University of Ibadan, we produced most of the reagents and other resources we needed for disease diagnosis. We grew up in a country that produced in Yaba, Lagos, vaccines against three human diseases  small pox, yellow fever and rabies. The veterinary research laboratory in Vom, produced and exported nearly all vaccines against animal diseases. Then we had committed workers, caring leaders and an appreciative citizenry. Today, we have selfish and uncaring leaders, unpatriotic workforce, and a weary and disillusioned citizenry. To improve the Nigerian health or any other sector, we must first address and change our individual and collective attitude to our nation, we must be ready to live for our country, to make sacrifices. We must address our grievances, we must create an environment where each citizen is not rated a second class citizen, a country where there is equity, a country that belongs to us all and not to a few greedy and callous souls.

    Is the health sector problem that of poor policy or lack of facilities?

    Crafting great policy has never been a problem for Nigeria. The issue is our failure to correctly and fully implement our policies and recommendations. We have often succeeded in implementing policies that favour a section and not the whole of the country. Nigeria comes third to our tribe and second to our selfish greed.

    What is your take on Nigerians travelling abroad for treatment take President Muhammad Buhari for instance?

    The question is not should Nigerians travel abroad for treatment, but should Nigeria not provide quality health services for her citizens so they will not have to travel abroad to treat a headache? So long as our country fails to provide quality and equitable health services, so long as we run away from Universal Health Coverage, so long as those who have the means seek treatment abroad, and the poor die in agony. Unfortunately, majority of our people do not have the means for medical tourism. Therefore I wish to echo, in part, NMA’s welcome message to our President ….. “Provide for your citizens the quality of medical services you went overseas to enjoy”. Life should be sweet, as much as possible, for every citizen

    You recently accused National Universities Commission (N.U.C) of using outdated benchmark in its accreditation of university courses, what is the way out?

    The world of technology is changing so fast, knowledge is racing away from us; therefore we cannot afford to use the old archaic and time consuming process of updating benchmarks. We must be proactive and think far ahead of fitting our graduates for the world of tomorrow. NUC must accept that in accrediting our university courses, it cannot be the prosecution, the defence and the judge. The NUC sets the operating guidelines and benchmark for university courses, with input from the university staff, who teach the courses. The NUC oversees the university accreditation system and draws the accreditation team from staff of the universities being accredited. A more transparent accreditation system, not involving the NUC and university staff serving as judges and juries, but involving independent third parties should be introduced. In this way, it may be possible to change the poor public perception of our university system and products  unemployable graduates, poor quality of teaching, arising from pitiable quality of teachers, examination malpractices, etc.

    Parents are complaining against the procedures adopted by JAMB this year, as an educational administrator what is your take on JAMB’s current cut off mark of 120 for universities and 100 for polytechnics?

    It is true that we have now set admission cut off at the very high standard of 30%! Of course, this level is set for the discretion list of staff and vice chancellors. It is the gateway for legislators, chiefs, Obas, the big men and irresponsible parents in the society to get admission for a fee for their poor performing children, nieces and nephews, Thirty percent…unbelievable. Where are we heading for ….ignominious mediocrity! And we want high global ranking for our universities….we deceive ourselves, don’t we?

    What is the implication of this on the health sector?

    Not just the implication on the health sector, but for all sectors. In the near future, we will feel the crushing boom of this obnoxious target of 30% admission cut off. We might as well turn every secondary school into a university and offer each student who completes SS3, a first class! We are not just destroying the future of our children; we are slowly and softly killing our nation. We are uprooting the shallow foundation of excellence we currently have.

    What is the way out?

    Set a high standard of excellence, and make it applicable to all. Punish those who will not follow the path of accountability, reward those who are honest, committed and patriotic. Stop giving national honours to those who will eventually end up in EFCC net and incarcerated in prison. Avoid unfair and discriminatory targets for a section of the country. I have nothing against the doctrine of federal character in a federal system, but there has to be a time limit for the use of federal character in determining who gets what in this country. Federal character should not be a perpetual tool for the disadvantage of any section in the country. After all, are we saying a state once educationally backward will remain so FOREVER? I think the system was to allow disadvantaged sections of the country to “catch up”. Now some of them have taken not only their quota, but also the quota of other people. At the rate we are going, the “advantaged” are now becoming the “disadvantaged”, as a result of no END  to federal character system.

  • Nigeria begins vaccines production

    Nigeria begins vaccines production

    Nigeria is to begin production of vaccines in Lagos this year, it was announced  yesterday.

    Health Minister Prof Isaac Adewole said the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved a proposal to go into a joint venture with pharmaceutical giant May & Baker. The government will hold 49 per cent equity and the company will have the rest.

    According to the plan, the company will have an initial capital of N100 million and equity contributions of N1.3 billion and N1.27 billion.

    “It will take off in 2017.The company will between 2017 and 2021 produce basic vaccines that we need,” the minister said.

    The Federal Government is contributing the Institute of Vaccines Research where the new company will take off as its equity.

    The company’s board will be made up of seven people, four from May & Baker and three from the federal Government.

    He said: “FEC approved joint venture agreement between the Federal Government and Baker Plc to produce vaccines from 2017-2021.

    “The Federal Government is using existing facility at the Federal Vaccine Production Production Lab, Lagos, as our equity. And that has been assessed by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to be about N1.27 billion and May and Baker will put in about N1.3 billion in keeping with the 51, 49 per cent equity participation.

    “Between 1940 and1991, Nigeria was not only producing vaccines, such as smallpox, yellow fever, and anti-rabies vaccines, but we also exported to Cameroon, Central African Republic and a few other countries.

    “In 1991, the Vaccine Production Laboratory stopped production ostensibly because government wanted to reactivate and upgrade the facility, which did not take place till today.

    “What council did today was to was put life into this joint venture agreement that proposes to establish a company called Bio-vaccines Ltd, which will be jointly owned by Federal Government of Nigeria and May and Becker Plc,” the minister said.

    Adewole, with whom were Ministers of Information and Culture (Lai Mohammed), Science and Technology (Ogbonnaya Onu)  and Niger Delta (Usani Usani), explained that the FEC had mandated Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami to perfect the agreement. “Hopefully in the next two weeks, we should sign this agreement and we are ready to fly,” he said.

    According to him, the agreement was to further secure the lives of Nigerians since the production of vaccines is now considered a security issue.

    “. We are quite happy that today it has taken place and we believe that Nigeria has started a journey to vaccines security,” he said.

    The minister said he also briefed the council on the meningitis outbreak, adding that the country was almost at the end of it. “What we are now doing is to prepare to ensure that this does not repeat itself next year,” he added.

    Council also received briefing on the unfortunate incident where a body was flown into the country from the Democratic Republic of Congo by Kenya Airways.

    According to him, the body was brought in without approval. “The standard procedure is that for you to fly a body into Nigeria, you need a waiver, a sort of approval issued by the Federal Ministry of Health and this was not sought.

    He assured Nigerians that the body tested negative to Ebola and any of the hemorrhagic fevers, adding: “We know the cause of death but for confidential reasons, we do not have to disclose it. But it is nothing really to worry about.”

  • ‘GSK won’t hike price of pneumonia vaccines for 10 years’

    Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) will not increase the price of its pneumonia vaccines for the next 10 years.

    The company said it took the decision to ensure that children do not die of the disease.

    Pneumonia is the number one killer disease among chiodren under five.

    According to the International Vaccines Access Centre’s (IVAC’s) preliminary findings launched in Abuja on the World’s Pneumonia Day, marked on November 12, an estimated 750,000 Nigerian children died largely from diseases last year. About 127,000 died of pneumonia.

    The preventable and treatable disease claimed more lives last year compared to malaria, which used to be the number one child-killer disease in the country, last year.

    GSK Medical Director Dr. Lana Odunuga said his organisation has placed a 10-year price freeze on pneumonia drugs as the country graduates from GAVI funds next year.

    This, Odunuga said, is to ensure pneumonia vaccines are available to the people even after donor support is withdrawn.

    He urged the government to be consistent with policies and programmes, stressing that the country was on the right path and there was need to sustain it.

    He said: “I just want to emphasise that we need consistency in our programmes. We have done very well in our policy making; we have done very well in our coordination. So, it is just consistency and once we  are consistent, we will get there. We need to start from somewhere and we are on a journey, we will get there.

    “We are supporting the immunisation programme, we are providing the vaccines that are used for the prevention of pneumonia in children.  And one of the things I highlighted as part of our own support is actually to make sure that even at a time when Nigeria graduates from GaVI fund, which will eventually happened, Nigeria will still be able to access the vaccines as the same price at which they are getting it now. In addition to that we have also tried to make it possible to reduce the cost a child pays for vaccines in Nigeria by one dollar. ”

    He said GSK  is to set up six centres across the country for the distribution of vaccines next year, blaming BokomHaram for the high incidencevof the disease. He stressed that the disruption of infrastructure led to displacement of people.

    NPHCDA Acting Executive Director, Mr. Emmanuel Odu,  noted that the Federal Government, in addressing  pneumonia among children, introduced pentavalent vaccine.

    He urged stakeholders to vaccinate their children against the disease.

    The Emir of Jiwa, Alhaji Musa Idris, who was chairman on the occasion, assured that the traditional leaders would continue to mobilise their subjects towards eradicating pneumonia in rural.

    He stressed, that as traditional rulers, they were committed to enlightening their people

    International Vaccines Access Centre (IVAC) report stated: “Pneumonia is now the leading cause of child deaths in Nigeria, a position previously held by malaria over the years. In 2015, about 17 percent ( 127, 00 deaths) and 10 per cent (75,000) of all under-five deaths, including neonatal deaths were caused by pneumonia and diarrhea.”

  • Minister seeks increased vaccines production for animal diseases

    Minister seeks increased vaccines production for animal diseases

    The Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has called on the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association to intensify vaccines production to curb Avian Influenza and other animal diseases in the country.

    He made the call when the association’s executives visited him in his office in Abuja.

    Lokpobiri said for the government to achieve a sustainable food security, more funding was required to support commercial vaccine production.

    He said: “For us to achieve the objective, we need more funding. If the Veterinary Council of Nigeria and your association intensify efforts in vaccines production, we will be able to control or combat the spread of Avian Influenza and other deadly diseases.”

    The minister commended the collaboration between the Veterinary Council and the Veterinary Medical Association, assuring that the ministry would complement their efforts by providing standard abattoirs,cattle grazing and other problems.

    He promised to direct the Director, Legal Department in the ministry to work with the association in reviewing relevant laws that would enhance their operations.

    Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association President, Dr. Edgar Amos Sunday, who led the delegation, noted that the group had contributed to the development of the agricultural sector, especially in the containment of livestock and zoonotic diseases, curbing of cattle rustling and herdsmen/farmers clashes.

    He highlighted the need to review laws hindering veterinary service delivery and livestock development.

    “This should aim to repeal obsolete sections and insert new ones to suit contemporary realities,” he added.

  • How new vaccines will enhance child survival

    National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) Executive Director Dr. Ado Muhammad writes on  how childhood killer-diseases can be reduced in Nigeria.

    The Federal Government through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) supports and provides leadership for the development of primary health care (PHC) system in Nigeria. The Agency has seven goals as follows: control preventable diseases; improve access to basic health services; improve quality of care; strengthen institutions; develop high performing health workforce; strengthen partnerships; and strengthen community engagement. It achieves these goals by supporting States and LGAs in developing sustainable system of PHC services that are accessible, affordable and of good quality through the participation of individuals, families and communities in partnership with government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

    In the recent past, some major accomplishments have been recorded in the increasing coverage for routine immunization (RI), Midwives Service Scheme (MSS), Measles Control, and the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI).  The improvement in the RI coverage has immensely contributed to the reduction in the morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). For instance; the sustained OPV3 coverage >80 per cent is most probably responsible for the significant reduction in the WPV transmission in the country; sustained improvement in the measles RI coverage >80% in most States is also responsible for the reduced morbidity and mortality from measles cases nationwide. Some of the key factors responsible for improved RI performance in the country are sustained vaccine availability; the overhauling of the immunization system in general, coordinated planning in collaboration with our development partners and other key stakeholders, and the new vaccine introduction in the country. The NPHCDA has ensured that this is on-going on a sustainable basis.

    Major causes of U5 deaths in Nigeria

    New Vaccines Introduction (NVI)

    Infectious diseases are still responsible for nearly 30% of all deaths worldwide; more than 15 million people die every year, mostly in low-income and middle-income countries3. The Global Immunization Vision and Strategy (GIVS) 2006-2015, for fighting VPDs has 3 priority objectives: (1) immunize more people against more diseases (2) introduce a range of newly available vaccines and technologies, and (3) provide a number of critical health interventions through immunization.

    The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) prescribes attainment by 2015, of an under 5-mortality rate of not more than 75/1000 live births (MDG4).  The 2008 National Demographic & Health Survey (NDHS) estimated Nigeria’s under 5-mortality rate to be 157, declining at a rate of 1.2 per cent annually. This rate of progress was deemed insufficient to keep the country on track to achieve MDG4. Nigeria must therefore commit to and implement high impact interventions aimed at reducing the child deaths.

    Pentavalent Vaccine Introduction

    The Pentavalent vaccine is a combination vaccine that protects infants against the following five diseases: diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) pneumonia and meningitis. Prior to 2012, the RI schedule consisted of the traditional vaccines: BCG, OPV, DPT, Measles and Yellow Fever Vaccines. Commencing in May 2012, Nigeria introduced the Pentavalent Vaccine into its National Immunisation Schedule in a phased manner over a three-year period; in order to reduce substantially child mortality from pneumonia and meningitis and thus save up to 30,000 lives annually following full introduction. Currently, it is available in all PHC facilities nationwide.

    However, pneumonia is a disease that can be caused by a number of other infectious agents that include bacteria, viruses and fungi; the most common in children being Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus). The Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) – is the second most common cause of bacterial pneumonia. Other causes are the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and in infants infected with HIV, Pneumocystis jiroveci is one of the commonest causes of pneumonia.

    Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine-10 (PCV-10) Introduction

    Most recently, we have also introduced the PCV-10 to protect infants against the diseases caused by the pneumococcal bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae) such as pneumonia, meningitis and bacteraemia.  The national launch event was conducted on the 22nd December, last year at Lokoja, Kogi State. The 12 States of the federation that commenced this phased introduction were selected on zonal basis, immunization coverage and their capacities to receive and store the new vaccine, viz: Adamawa, Yobe, Kaduna, Katsina, Kogi, Plateau, Ondo, Osun, Edo, Rivers, Anambra and Ebonyi. This introduction of the PCV-10 is continuing in a phased manner that by 2017, it will be available to infants in all the States and the FCT.

    Supplemental Immunisation Vaccines

    Other supplemental vaccines such as Measles, Yellow Fever and the newer MenAfriVac vaccine that protects against the commonest cause of cerebro-spinal meningitis (CSM) serotype A are also given as needed. In the period 2011-2014, the MenAfriVac vaccine was administered through the 23 meningitis belt States in Nigeria to an extended age-group of one to 29 years old in our effort to eliminate CSM serotype A as a major public health issue.

    The NDHS 2003, 2008 and 2013 have indicated a gradual, sustained improvement in child survival indices. The introduction of these new vaccines will further reduce childhood mortality rates in Nigeria.

    _Trends in Childhood Mortality, 1999 – 2013 (NDHS Reports)

    IPV Introduction as End Game Strategy for the PEI

    The country has made an unprecedented progress in its polio eradication strategy (PEI) in the past 1 year. There have been only 6 confirmed cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in 2 States in 2014 compared to 50 cases in 9 States for the same period in 2013; with the date of onset of latest WPV case being 24th July 2014. There have been no confirmed WPV3 since November 20124.

    The import of the above is that Nigeria has now achieved the interruption of the transmission of the wild poliovirus (WPV) ending 2014. Through the combined efforts of governments and other key stakeholders, we are going to even put up more efforts into the next 2 years to ensure certification of the country as polio-free.

    Hitherto, only variants of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) have been used in our RI and the PEI efforts. However, as the country enters into the polio endgame, we have now introduced the injectable polio vaccine (IPV) to complement the supplemental effort. Initially, the IPV was introduced in the polio-endemic States of Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi and Kano. But, commencing from the first quarter of 2015, the IPV will also be available to be delivered in the RI schedule to all eligible children at age of 14 weeks, in addition to the OPV that is given in the traditional four-dose RI schedule. The IPV given at that age is intercalated with the OPV and is expected to boost the child’s immunity further to confer higher protection against the poliovirus.

    The Rotavirus Vaccine

    The rotavirus vaccine is an oral vaccine against rotavirus infection, a common cause of diarrhea and sickness, typically striking babies and young children. The unpleasant bouts of diarrhea are sometimes followed with vomiting, tummy ache and fever. The disease accounts for about half of the hospitalizations for severe diarrhea in infants and children. A significant number of those children affected by the infection may die. The incidence and severity of the rotavirus infection have declined significantly as seen in those countries that have added Rotavirus vaccination to their routine childhood immunization. When introduced into our RI schedule in the 3rd quarter of 2015, it will be administered to infants on 2 visits at ages of 6 and 10 weeks.

    Other health strengthening efforts

    Apart from the Rota Virus vaccine that is administered orally, all the other newly introduced vaccines are in form of injection. This necessitates for the health service provider to have good working knowledge of injection safety and apply the appropriate injection techniques during vaccine administration. The programme ensures the use of auto-destruct (AD) syringes, universal safety boxes and proper waste disposal, including incineration of the injection wastes.

    Through other channels and related programmes, families and communities are regularly educated on the benefits of other non-vaccine but highly effective measures such as exclusive breastfeeding for the newborn up till six months of age, adequate nutrition, reducing indoor air pollution and hand washing. Zinc supplements are given to reduce morbidity from diarrhoeal diseases while health-worker training in PHCs nationwide include capacity building for early detection and to manage and/or treat minor ailments.

    The Midwives Service Scheme (MSS) & SURE-P Maternal & Child Health (MCH)

    The MSS and SURE-P MCH both operate in 1,000 health facilities with a compliment of four midwives and two CHEWs per facility; this is a human resource pool of about 8,000 midwives and 2,000 CHEWs at the frontlines. We have put in place mechanisms for supply of drugs and commodities and in some places provided boreholes to complement the health services. These schemes serve a population of over 25 million Nigerians and have not only provided a platform for immunization services in the country but also a base for improving the health system of the country with special emphasis on PHC.

    Justification

    The introduction of new vaccines (Pentavalent, PCV, IPV, Rotavirus vaccines etc.) will help Nigeria to significantly reduce childhood mortality and accelerate the achievement of the MDGs. These new vaccines will help avert an additional 486,957 deaths over a 6-year period. To achieve the MDG 4 targets (70 U-5 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2015), Nigeria needs prompt action to drive down U-5 mortality by  ~ 30 per cent (from the current 128/1000 live births). As Nigeria’s population is approximately 16 per cent of Africa’s, our attainment of the health MDG targets will significantly improve the health outcomes in Africa as a whole.

  • Fed Govt releases 1.5m doses of measles’ vaccines to states

    •Nigeria to produce vaccines 

    The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has said it would get additional 7.2 million doses of measles’ vaccines in the next two weeks.

    The agency has already released 1.5 million doses of vaccines to battle the infectious disease.

    The worst hit states – Kano, Katsina and Sokoto – got 500,000, 400,000 and 300,000 doses of the vaccine.

    The government would also buy antibiotics and rehydration fluids to support case management of the children affected by the disease across the country.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja by its Executive Director, Dr. Ado Muhammad, NPHCDA explained that while the country awaits the delivery of 7.2million doses of measles’ vaccines, the agency still has 300,000 doses of the vaccine kept at the National Strategic Cold Store in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    “The agency has additional reserve of 300,000 doses of measles’ vaccines still kept at the National Strategic Cold Store in Abuja,” the statement said.

    It added that the additional vaccines would be delivered to worst hit states during next month’s polio immunisation campaign.

    NPHCDA said during the April polio immunisation campaign, Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) would be administered to children under five through a house-to-house method.

    The agency also said measles’ vaccines and Vitamin A would be administered to children between six and 59 months at health facilities (fixed posts) and temporary posts.

    Also, Nigeria will soon begin local manufacture of vaccines and biologicals, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr Paul Orhii has said.

    The NAFDAC chief spoke yesterday in Lagos at the opening of mentorship of NAFDAC workers by Canadia’s regulatory agency, Health Canada.

    Orhii said Canada is training NAFDAC workers in medicine regulation, especially in vaccines and biologicals to ensure that the nation does not experience their shortages again.

    The NAFDAC chief noted that vaccines are important to Nigeria because the country has a high disease burden.

    He added that the prevalence of diseases would be prevented through appropriate vaccination.

    According to him, producing vaccines locally is a step the agency is taking to safeguard public health.

    “Vaccines are very expensive and they have delicate processes that should be made right,” Orhii said.

    The NAFDAC chief urged Nigerians to avoid vaccines that can endanger their health.

    According to him, Nigeria will gain a lot if it develops the capacity to produce and monitor quality vaccines.

    He said: “NAFDAC can now regulate vaccines. This will save the country a lot of money.”

    The Director-General, Ontario Laboratory Network at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Dr Lindsay Elmgren said the organisation was ready to make NAFDAC stronger in food and drug regulation, especially in vaccines and biologicals.

    He added that training NAFDAC workers would strengthen vaccine regulation in Nigeria.