The National Primary Health Care Development Agency has disclosed that more than one million children across four states have been administered at least one dose of the malaria vaccine.
The agency’s Executive Director, Muyi Aina, made this known during a media briefing in Abuja, noting that the vaccination programme, which initially commenced in Kebbi and Bayelsa states, has now been expanded to Ondo and Bauchi.
Providing a breakdown of coverage, Dr. Aina explained that hundreds of thousands of children have already been reached in the pioneer states, while significant numbers have also been recorded in the newly included states.
He further revealed that over 600,000 doses of the vaccine are currently available within the national cold chain system to sustain distribution efforts.
The malaria vaccination drive began in December 2024 following the receipt of vaccine doses from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Health authorities had prioritised high-burden areas at the onset of the rollout.
Dr. Aina explained that the vaccine, developed by researchers at the University of Oxford and approved by the World Health Organization, is designed to protect children against malaria but requires multiple doses for optimal effectiveness.
He acknowledged challenges with adherence to the full dosage schedule, stressing that mechanisms are being strengthened to ensure children complete all required doses.
On healthcare financing, Dr. Aina said the Federal Government has increased funding to the sector through the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, with billions of naira released between 2023 and 2025.
He noted that more health facilities are now benefiting from the intervention, alongside an upward review of allocations to reflect current economic realities.
According to him, additional oversight measures have been introduced, including the deployment of hundreds of financial and performance monitoring officers nationwide.
He added that the agency has also recovered millions of naira from mismanaged funds, while sanctions have been applied where necessary.
Dr. Aina further disclosed that efforts are ongoing to digitise financial reporting systems, with implementation already underway in several states and plans for nationwide coverage before year-end.
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