Nigeria Now Offers Rotavirus Vaccinations for Children

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, today announced oral rotavirus vaccinations would join the country's infant immunization program.

"This introduction is a major milestone in the push to protect more Nigerian children against vaccine-preventable diseases," said Thabani Maphosa, Managing Director of Country Programmes for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, in a media statement on August 22, 2022.

"Rotavirus-related disease is the leading cause of severe diarrhea in young children worldwide, and a key contributor to childhood mortality in Nigeria."

Childhood diarrhea is the third leading cause of childhood mortality in Nigeria.

The vaccination program aims to reach 7 million children within the first 12 months.

Rotavirus vaccination is the best way to protect children against rotavirus disease, says the U.S. CDC.

About 90% of children who get the vaccine will be protected from severe rotavirus disease.

There are two rotavirus vaccines are currently licensed for infants in the USA:

• RotaTeq® is given in three doses at ages two months, four months, and six months,
• Rotarix® is offered in two doses at ages two months and four months.

Vaccinating children for travel requires careful evaluation, says the CDC.

Whenever possible, children should complete routine childhood immunizations on a regular schedule.

However, travel at an earlier age may require accelerated schedules. 

When visiting Nigeria, travelers should review the CDC's Travel Advisories focused on Nigeria's monkeypox, polio, COVDI-19, and yellow fever outbreak.

Note: These announcements were manually curated for international travelers.