By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

Stakeholders in the in Health sector on Monday, revealed that investment of N1 trillion, will address vaccine shortfall in Primary Health Care Centers, PHCs, across Nigeria.Chika Offor Chief Executive Officer, of Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC), revealed this at a press conference, organised by VNDC and partners, in commemoration of World Health Day, WHD, in Abuja.

With the theme of the 2025 World Health Day, WHD, ‘Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,’. Chika Offor, commended President Ahmed Tinubu for 2025 budget’s allocation of N231.7 billion for immunization, malaria vaccination, and vaccine tracking, which she said it is a mile stone achievement for Nigeria. According to her, as of December 2023, the future of vaccine financing in Nigeria looked uncertain. She said, “However, by December 2024, there was a breakthrough—the Federal Government released the outstanding funds and allocated 25% of the 2024 vaccine budget.”The 2025 budget’s allocation of N231.7 billion for immunization, malaria vaccination, and vaccine tracking is a significant milestone toward universal vaccine coverage”.She However lamented that the sustainability of these gains is now at risk., because of the exit of USAID funding and diminishing donor support, Nigeria’s vaccine financing is more vulnerable than ever.Offor cried out, “Shrinking fiscal space and competing national priorities further threaten immunization programs. If we do not act swiftly, we risk reversing the progress made in 2024”.She continued, “Vaccines have saved millions of lives and remain central to Nigeria’s health and development goals. In two decades, immunization efforts have, Eradicated the wild poliovirus, Protected over 30 million children under five, Achieved 71% national HPV vaccination coverage, protecting over 12 million girls”.She however said despite all these achievements, Nigeria remains one of the countries with the highest number of zero-dose children—those who have never received any routine vaccine.She noted that the nation cannot afford shortfall of vaccines in the country so she urged the government to include vaccine financing as a first-line charge in the national budget, ensuring timely disbursement and sustainability.She said it is urgent for the Federal Government to establish a predictable and sustainable immunization financing framework. And the National Assembly (NASS) to support the inclusion of vaccine financing as a first-line charge in the annual budget. State and Local Governments also should allocate dedicated vaccine funding, ensure timely budget releases, and establish accountability mechanisms to ensure effective resource utilisation.The Private Sector to actively support vaccine financing at federal, state, and local government levels, recognizing that a healthy population drives economic growth, she said .Former Kwara Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, recently appointed Chairman of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), emphasised that uninterrupted funding for immunisation is vital to safeguard Nigeria’s youth, the nation’s most valuable asset.”It is very clear that vaccines saves lives and if we do not champion vaccines proper distribution then we will have serious health implications and it is imperative to increase health financing in Nigeria” he said.