Immunization is the process whereby a person is made immune or resistant to an infection by the administration of a vaccine.
A vaccine is a dead, or weakened version, or part of the germ that causes the disease in question. When children are immunized, their immune system, which is the body’s germ-fighting machine, is able to build up antibodies that protect them from getting the disease if and when they are exposed to the actual disease. This means that vaccines stimulate the body immune system to protect the person against subsequent infection or disease.
The benefits of immunization can be direct or indirect
• Immunized children are directly protected from infectious diseases such as measles, tetanus, polio, hepatitis, whooping cough etc.
• Other unimmunized children could also benefit indirectly through community or herd immunity. Herd immunity occurs when a large portion of the population is immune to an infection and so there is decrease risk of transmission. This means that a lot of children will have to be immunized to achieve this.
Here are the vaccines currently on the Nigerian National Programme on Immunization
- BCG- protects against severe forms of Tuberculosis such as Tuberculous meningitis
- Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) and Injectable Polio Vaccine (IPV)- protect against polio which can cause paralysis and death.
- Hepatitis B Vaccine- protects against hepatitis B virus infection which causes liver disease, cancer and death. The birth dose confers partial protection•PCV (pneumococcal conjugate vaccine)- protects against pneumonia, meningitis, ear infection etc.
- Pentavalent vaccine- contains 5 vaccines – Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus toxoid Haemophilus influenza type B and Hepatitis B vaccine. This protects against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, hepatitis B virus infection and other infections like pneumonia, meningitis, ear infections
- Rotavirus- protects against diarrhoea in children
- Measles vaccine- protects against measles infection
- Yellow fever vaccine- protects against yellow fever infection
- Vitamin A- It is not strictly a vaccine. It is a supplement that boosts immunity against infectious diseases and protects against blindness.
Other vaccines available but currently not on the Nigerian Programme on Immunization but which can be obtained at a cost privately are:
- Chicken pox vaccine- protects against chicken pox
- MMR- protects against measles, mumps and rubella
The current Immunization schedule in Nigeria
- At birth- BCG, OPV 0, HBV
- 6 weeks- OPV 1, PCV 1, Rotavirus 1, Pentavalent 1
- 10 weeks- OPV 2, PCV 2, Rotavirus 2, Pentavalent 2
- 14 weeks- OPV 3, PCV 3, IPV, Pentavalent 3
- 6 months- Vitamin A
- 9 months- Measles, Yellow fever, Meningitis vaccine
- 1 year- Vitamin A. Vitamin A is given every 6 months till the age of 5 years
- 15 months- Measles 2
Chicken pox vaccine and MMR (Measles Mumps Rubella) though available in the country are not currently on the National immunization schedule. They are administered as follows:
- Chicken pox- 12 to 15 months
- MMR- 15 to 18 months
Apart from routine immunization which involves taking the child to the hospital to get vaccines, there are also supplemental immunization programs. These programs are intended to complement the routine immunization and increase vaccine coverage. It involves house to house immunization of eligible children. It is good to allow your children to take these vaccines.
Common side effects noted in children after vaccination are mild. They include pain, swelling, or redness where the shot was given, mild fever. These can be managed with antipyretic/ analgesic such as paracetamol. However, if symptoms persist, the child should be taken to the hospital.
Please note that the swelling or abscess following a BCG immunization should NEVER be incised or opened up. Do not rub or massage. The swelling or abscess will resolve with time and form a scar. Some children have had to miss immunization for various reasons.
Please note that the following are not contra- indications to immunization
- any minor illness, such as respiratory tract infections or diarrhoea with temperature below 38°C;
- treatment with antibiotics;
- allergy or asthma (except if there is a known allergy to a specific component of the vaccine mentioned above)
- family history of convulsions• known or suspected HIV infection with no signs and symptoms of AIDS;
- stable neurological conditions, such as cerebral palsy or Down’s Syndrome
- child being breastfed
- history of jaundice at birth.
NOTE: If you are uncertain whether to take your child for immunization for whatever reason, kindly discuss with the doctor rather than assume that it is not safe for the child to be immunized at the time.
There are very few absolute contradictions to immunization. These include: previous adverse reaction, high fever, very sick child, low immunity from HIV, cancer or prolonged use of steroids.
In conclusion, childhood immunization is very important, it is cost effective and safe.
Let’s also ensure that the immunization cards are up to date, every shot received should be recorded by the health care worker, and the cards should be kept well and safe.
Contributed by Dr. Akunne Somtochukwu, Paediatrician.
Why are some children not given vitamin A at 6months
WHO recommends Oral Vitamin A from age 6 months for children living in places with high prevalence of Vitamin A deficiency. I am aware that some States now give just two doses at 9 months and 15 months but WHO recommends from age 6 months. However remember a lot of food like cereals, oil and sugar are also being fortified with Vitamin A
For the supplemental immunization programmes (house to house) what vaccines are given?
It depends on what outbreak we are trying to control but it is usually oral polio vaccine. At schools, measles vaccine can also be given as supplemental but it is injection
Please, if a 6 week old child is mistakenly given IPV, what will happen? And is there anything the mother should do?
There is no mistake and there is no need to worry as the OPV is being changed to IPV gradually. They are both Polio vaccines – one is oral while the other is injection.
Good day doctor, the immunization chart isn’t complete because i am supposed to take my 18months old for another vaccine after her 15months vaccination. Please where can i get the full chart to know what is being given and how it will be administered?
This is complete by the Nigerian programme on Immunizations. Those extra vaccines are not the on the Nigerian schedule. So kindly ask your doctors in your hospital for thheir schedule of the extra vaccines which I have referred to as Non-NPI vaccines
Thank you for the information, the other vaccines which are not on the national immunization schedule, if not given to a child in her life, is there a consequence or it is a must for every child to have the chicken pox and mmr vaccines too? Thank you
The consequence of not taking any vaccine is that the child can have that particular disease the vaccine protects against. So a child who did not have chickenpox vaccine can develop chicken pox in future. A child who did not have MMR can develop Mumps and so on.
Thank u ma for being always. Aside chicken pot and Mmr stated in the article, are there other vaccines required or advisable to be taken outside the Nigerian NPI? The schedule I was given for Non NPI is long.
They are all listed in this article – HPV is another one. Please read the last paragraph of the article
Good day doctor, my child was not given MMR and Chicken pox. He is 4yrs and 4months presently. Can he still take it?
He can if you want him to. You have to pay for it though as you are aware they are not part of the national programme on immunization that are given free.
Good evening Doctor, please my baby is 10months old, someone sent list of vaccines that are not in the immunization card, he gave his daughter to my husband and said it’s very vital to ensure that my baby gets all of them. Please Doctor I want to know if it’s really necessary.
Yes …you can….Please read the article above to know the Non-NPI vaccines that you can give your baby
Can a six weeks baby still run temperature two days after vaccination
Yes they can. Fever is a common side effects of immunizations. All you need to do is to give paracetamol every 6 hours for the first 2 – 3 days.
My son had his week six shots yesterday and was given 3 injections. It that right cause he’s feverish
There is nothing wrong with the number of shots given. Fever is a common side effects of immunizations. Give paracetamol every 6 hours for the next 2 – 3 days and the baby should be fine.
My child took her last immunization at 15months before we relocated and we av misplaced the card, pls what can we do?
You should go to the city where you are and continue with the immunization schedule they have locally. You can also request a new copy from the health centre or hospital your baby took the immunizations
Well done for the good work doc. My baby missed her 12months appointment and is due for 15 months. Can both vaccines be administered at once? Then can I continue giving my 4yr old Vit A?
There is no vaccine at 12 months. Check your immunization card to know vaccines due and their timing.
Hello Doc, my son was not given Meningitis vaccine at 9 months and he’s 2 years now. Can he still take the vaccine. Thanks
Yes he can…just go to the nearest health centre to catch up on any missed immunizations
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Can my 8year old son still take the meningitis vaccine as he wasn’t given at 9months
Yes, he can though the risks are highest below the age of 5 years but if you live in areas where there is high incidence of meningitis, you should.
Good work doc, well done. My twins are 2 and half years old. What vaccine do they get pls? Thank you.
There are no vaccines at 2 years old in the NPI. If you want the Non-NPI vaccines, you can get them in the private hospitals that give them. Read the articles for more information. The next vaccines on NPI are HPV at age 9 years.