Kano State Launches Africa’s Largest Integrated Vaccination Drive, Targeting 7.8 Million Children

The Kano State Government has officially commenced a record-breaking Integrated Measles-Rubella and Polio Vaccination Campaign, an ambitious health drive aiming to protect millions of children across the state. This massive public health initiative, which is part of a national plan, is hailed as the largest integrated vaccination effort of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa.

The core objective of the campaign is to administer the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine to an estimated 7.8 million children aged nine months to 14 years. Concurrently, the integrated exercise will also target approximately 3.9 million children under five years old for polio vaccination, alongside routine immunisations for other diseases like Hepatitis and HPV.

The state’s launch of the campaign is a critical step in the national effort to curb the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases. Kano State falls under Phase One of the national campaign, with the exercise slated to run from October 6 to October 17, 2025.

Speaking at a pre-campaign media engagement, the Chief of the UNICEF Field Office in Kano, Rahama Farah, highlighted the massive logistical undertaking. He confirmed that the campaign is a concerted effort by key partners, including the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), WHO, Gavi, the Gates Foundation, civil society organisations, UNICEF, and the Kano State Government.

To ensure widespread coverage and success, the NPHCDA, with support from UNICEF, has deployed 3,347 vaccination teams and allocated over 4.6 million doses of Novel Oral Polio Vaccines (nOPV2) and 4.5 million doses of bOPV. Furthermore, over 3,300 health workers have been specially trained on interpersonal communication skills, and nearly 5,000 community mobilizers have been engaged to boost awareness and resolve any non-compliance issues.

While noting the progress in reducing the circulating variant poliovirus (cVPV2) cases, partners stressed the urgency of achieving total eradication ahead of the December 2025 target. Stakeholders have called on Local Government Area chairpersons to actively oversee the campaign phases and ensure effective supervision and intensified social mobilisation, urging all parents and caregivers to make their eligible children available for the free, safe, and effective vaccines.