IHVN: Full Childhood Immunization Key to Reducing Child Deaths
By Ojoma Akor
The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has urged mothers to ensure their children receive all vaccines recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) immunization schedule.
IHVN’s Senior Technical Advisor for Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement, Dr. Temitope Kolade, made the call during an interview with Health and Science Africa in Abuja.
She said that missing routine vaccinations leaves children vulnerable to life-threatening illnesses that can cause disability or death.
Dr. Kolade said routine immunization remains one of the most effective public health interventions for protecting children against diseases such as polio, tuberculosis, hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, rotavirus diarrhea, and pneumococcal infections.
She explained that vaccines not only protect children before they are exposed to dangerous infections but also help build immunity when a child’s immune system responds most effectively, thereby reducing illness, disability, and death from vaccine-preventable diseases.
“These vaccines are not new. They have been refined over time, used safely for decades, and their effectiveness is well established. It is far better to protect children against preventable diseases than to leave them vulnerable to infection, which often requires far more time, resources, and effort for treatment and recovery,” she said.
She advised women to begin preparing for their child’s immunization during pregnancy by registering early for antenatal care and attending all scheduled clinic visits.
“During antenatal care, especially in the third trimester, healthcare workers educate expectant mothers about the vaccines their babies will need from birth,” she said.
Dr. Kolade explained that newborns receive their first vaccines, including the BCG vaccine against tuberculosis and the birth dose of the oral polio vaccine, shortly after delivery. She urged mothers to continue attending scheduled immunization appointments until their children complete the full routine vaccination schedule.
She highlighted that successful immunization requires strong collaboration among government agencies, development partners, and community organizations. “Whenever we enter a state, we begin with stakeholder engagement supported by community-based organizations such as the Chigari Foundation, which specializes in community mobilization and sensitization, and the Sultan Foundation,” she said.
According to her, IHVN, through the Gates Foundation-funded Identify, Enumerate and Vaccinate (IEV) Project, works with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) as its sub-recipient, and closely with the World Health Organization (WHO), which provides technical and operational support at the state level, including training, field operations, and other implementation activities.
She said that the institute also collaborates with eHealth Africa to manage the electronic devices used to collect data during immunization activities. “Where internet connectivity is poor, the application works offline. Field teams collect data throughout the day and, after returning to the ward or Local Government Area, the devices are taken to locations with network coverage, where the information is uploaded to the central server,” she explained.
Dr. Kolade added that the use of digital technology has strengthened data quality, improved monitoring, and enhanced efforts to ensure that every eligible child is reached with life-saving vaccines.