Nigeria has an estimated population of 186 million and an annual birth cohort of 7.4 million[1] spread across 9555 political wards, 774 LGAs, and 36 states and the FCT. Typical of nations with high fertility rates, the country’s population is relatively young and is expected to rise to 250 million by 2028 with a corresponding annual birth cohort of 10 million[2]. This projected population growth has immense implications especially on vaccine preventable diseases control, elimination and eradication.

Nigeria’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) has achieved slow growth in coverage in the last few years. The 2016 MICS/NICS showed that Penta 3 and full immunization coverage were 33% and 23% respectively. This is evidenced by the 2015/2016 MICS/NICS and previous surveys which showed an average National Penta3 cumulative coverage of 33% implying that 6 in 10 children (about 4.3M children nationwide)were not fully vaccinated with all life-saving vaccines in 2015 alone. This accounted for over 40% of deaths[3] of children under-five years of age due Vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) in Nigeria

This informed the declaration of State of Public Health Concern on Routine Immunization Program on the 17th of June 2017; the National Emergency Routine Immunization Coordination Centre (NERICC) was established and inaugurated on the 4th of July 2017.

Vision:

To achieve at least 85% immunization coverage for all antigens in Nigeria by end of 2019

Goal:

To provide a national and sub-national coordination mechanism to manage the full implementation of the routine immunization programs, strategies and other recommendations of various expert committees towards achieving routine immunization coverage of at least 85% for ALL antigens at national, states and LGAs levels.

Objectives:

Improve detection and responsiveness in the resolution of RI gaps.
Strengthen leadership and accountability for Routine Immunization.
Strengthen coordination for Routine immunization.
Increase Immunization data visibility, quality and use for action at all levels.
Increase outreach services for immunization for traditional vaccines especially in the very low performing states.

Expected Outcome:

Harmony and synergy in the provision of RI services and partner support.
Speedy resolution of issues and improved efficiency and quality in RI service delivery.
Increased immunization coverage rates in the state and LGAs and HFs.
Adequate implementation of accountability framework (rewards and sanctions) for immunization service delivery
Improved quality and accuracy of RI data

Kaduna State is committed to this declaration and has been working assiduously towards its achievement as follows;

State Emergency Routine Immunization Coordination Centre(SERICC) and various working groups have been formed
Local Government Routine Immunization Coordination Centre (LERICC) and various working groups have been formed.

A lot of achievements are being recorded in the area of data accuracy, RI LQAs result, program accountability and transparency etc