Nigeria is spending about $150 million every year on vaccines, a figure that shows both the scale of the country’s immunisation effort and the pressure on government to keep funding it as donor support declines.

That update came from Dr Muyi Aina, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, during the agency’s first quarterly media briefing for 2026 in Abuja. His message was clear. Vaccination remains one of the country’s most important public health investments, but Nigeria will have to carry more of the cost on its own as global aid becomes less reliable.

Why Nigeria’s Vaccine Bill Is So High

The annual vaccine spend is not limited to buying doses. It also covers the full system required to get vaccines safely to children and communities across the country. That includes outbreak response, syringes, cold chain equipment, waste disposal systems, incinerators, and the transport and storage network needed to keep vaccines effective.

Aina said funding currently comes from a mix of federal government allocations and support from development partners, especially Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. But the funding environment is changing.

According to him, development support is shrinking, and countries are now expected to increase domestic financing. That shift matters for Nigeria because immunisation is not a one time campaign. It is a continuous national commitment that depends on stable funding, working logistics, and enough health workers on the ground.

Nigeria Expands Malaria Vaccine Rollout

One of the most important parts of the briefing was the update on the malaria vaccine. Nigeria has now expanded the rollout beyond the original pilot states of Bayelsa and Kebbi to include Bauchi and Ondo after readiness assessments.

That expansion is significant. Malaria remains one of the biggest public health threats in Nigeria, especially for children, and the vaccine is being watched closely as part of the wider effort to reduce severe illness and deaths.

But Aina said the rollout comes with a challenge. Unlike many routine vaccines, the malaria vaccine requires four doses, which makes full compliance harder. Getting a child to take the first dose is one step. Getting that same child back for the second, third, and fourth doses is where the real test begins.

That is why the government is now strengthening its tracking and follow-up systems. The concern is not just access. It is completion.

Malaria Vaccine Numbers So Far

The figures released by the NPHCDA show that progress has started, even if the rollout is still in its early phase in some states.

Bayelsa has recorded about 68,000 doses administered. Kebbi has recorded 153,000 doses. Bauchi has reached about 66,000 doses, while Ondo has recorded more than 7,000 doses so far.

Aina also said around 600,000 doses are currently in Nigeria’s national cold chain system, showing that supply is being positioned for continued rollout.

In terms of coverage, he said 984,559 children in Kebbi and Bayelsa have received at least one dose. Ondo has recorded about 166,342 children, while Bauchi has reached about 105,890 children. Altogether, that brings the total number of children reached to nearly 1.3 million.

Those numbers suggest momentum, but they also underline the size of the job ahead. Reaching children once is important. Reaching them four times is what will determine the long-term impact of the programme.

Why Vaccines Remain One of Nigeria’s Best Health Investments

Aina used the briefing to push back against vaccine scepticism and remind the public that vaccines remain among the safest and most cost-effective medical tools available.

He said vaccines are often cheaper than many of the medicines people buy for treatment, including common malaria drugs, and are far more effective at preventing avoidable illness before it starts. He added that vaccines go through strict testing and safety reviews before they are approved for use.

His point was simple. When vaccines work well, people stop seeing the diseases they prevent. That success can make communities underestimate their value.

He pointed to diseases such as measles, where strong immunisation can sharply reduce outbreaks and make the threat seem distant. But the drop in visibility does not mean the disease has disappeared. It often means the vaccine is doing its job.

The Bigger Health System Behind Immunisation

The briefing also highlighted a broader truth about public healthcare in Nigeria. Vaccines are not delivered by policy statements alone. They depend on staffing, incentives, transport, storage, trust, and routine follow up.

Aina said the government is investing in both personnel and delivery systems to strengthen vaccine access nationwide. He also noted that immunisation programmes often go unnoticed, even though they consume major public resources and protect millions of lives.

That gap between investment and visibility is part of the challenge. Roads, bridges, and buildings are easy for the public to see. Vaccines are different. Their success is measured in diseases that do not spread, hospital visits that do not happen, and lives that do not make the news.

Free Maternal Services and Fistula Care Also Expanded

Beyond immunisation, the NPHCDA briefing included updates on maternal health and women’s care.

Aina said 48,372 women have accessed free maternal services nationwide. He also disclosed that about 2,497 women have benefited from obstetric fistula repair services coordinated through federal health facilities and the National Health Insurance Authority.

He described the fistula programme as a critical intervention, not only because of the medical treatment it provides, but because of its role in restoring dignity and improving the quality of life of affected women.

FAQs

How much does Nigeria spend on vaccines annually?

Nigeria spends about $150 million each year on vaccines, according to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.

Who funds vaccine procurement in Nigeria?

Vaccine funding comes from federal government allocations and development partners, especially Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. However, donor support is declining.

Which states are currently part of Nigeria’s malaria vaccine rollout?

The malaria vaccine rollout began in Bayelsa and Kebbi and has now expanded to Bauchi and Ondo.

Why is the malaria vaccine rollout challenging?

The malaria vaccine requires four doses, which makes it harder to ensure that children return and complete the full schedule.

How many children has the malaria vaccine programme reached so far?

According to the NPHCDA, the programme has reached nearly 1.3 million children across the participating states.

Why are vaccines considered cost-effective?

Vaccines help prevent disease before treatment is needed. That makes them safer, cheaper, and more efficient than managing outbreaks or treating preventable illnesses later.