Vaccine funding one of the greatest investments govt can make - UNICEF

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By Madu Obi

The United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, has recommended adequate funding for the provision of enough vaccines in Nigeria, saying that it is one of the greatest investments any forward- looking government can make.

At a media dialogue to commemorate this year's World Immunization Week, officials of the UNICEF Field Office Enugu, noted the life-saving power of immunization to protect people of all ages against vaccine-preventable diseases.

They noted that insecurity in most parts of the country is threatening the gains made earlier as many people no longer complete their immunization exercise.

In a paper he presented at the dialogue, the health specialist at the UNICEF Enugu Field Office, Dr Olusoji Akinleye, who said that immunization for all humanly possible, described vaccines as one of humanity’s greatest achievements and, therefore, should be sustained.

According to him, it is heartwarming that many stakeholders have been investing in vaccine funding, which is why Immunization is free.

He said: "Since 1974, 154 million lives have been saved and that is more than three million lives a year or six people every minute for five decades.

In the same period, vaccination has reduced infant deaths by 40%, and more children now live to see their first birthday and beyond, than at any other time in human history. Measles vaccine alone accounts for 60% of those lives saved.

Also, vaccines protect more than 30 life-threatening diseases. More lives are now being saved among people of all ages, with more recent vaccines against malaria, HPV, cholera, dengue, meningitis, RSV, Ebola and mpox, reflecting an era of massive scientific advancements in vaccine development and delivery. We are at a watershed moment in the history of global health.

Decades of collaborative efforts between governments, aid agencies, scientists, healthcare workers, and parents got us to where we are today – a world where we’ve eradicated smallpox and almost eradicated polio."

He, however, lamented that hard-won gains in stamping out diseases that are preventable through vaccination are now in jeopardy due to neglect, noting that 22 million children globally missed their first measles vaccine in 2023.

"Every new child born deserves the benefit of these vaccines, yet millions still miss out each year. To ensure that the immunization successes of the past 50 years are built on in the coming decades, this year’s theme, Immunization for All is Humanly Possible, aims to continue the “ humanly possible” campaign with a future forward look on the importance of ensuring that more people, especially children, are vaccinated," Akinleye stated.

He explained that this year's campaign aims to:

*Demonstrate that it is humanly possible to have less disease and more life, if people and their communities protect themselves and their loved ones from vaccine-preventable diseases through immunization, and

*Encourage governments to turn vaccines into vaccinations through strong immunization programmes at local and national levels to deliver on the promise of immunization for all.

"More people of all ages are being protected against vaccine-preventable diseases every day – malaria, cervical cancer, COVID, etc. Immunization reaches more people than any other health service; connects families with health care systems and helping everyone have access to much-needed care.

"Vaccines for one person also keep other people safe because in today’s interconnected world, an outbreak anywhere is a threat everywhere and supporting vaccinations not only saves lives, but keeps deadly outbreaks from diseases", he added