25 Million Nigerians Vaccinated Against Measles; 22 Million Receive Yellow Fever Shots — Minister Pate
The coordinating minister of health and social welfare, Muhammad Pate, has disclosed that the federal government has administered more than 25 million doses of measles vaccine and delivered 22 million yellow fever vaccinations across the country.
PulseNets learned that the minister made this known on Sunday via a broadcast on his verified X handle, @muhammadpate, where he outlined what he described as major gains in immunisation coverage and preventive healthcare delivery nationwide.
“Under this administration, over 25 million measles doses and 22 million yellow fever vaccinations have been administered, alongside Africa’s first Mpox vaccine rollout,” Mr Pate stated.
PulseNets obtained that the minister further revealed that beyond measles and yellow fever interventions, no fewer than five million children have received the pentavalent vaccine, while more than 10 million Nigerians were vaccinated with the tetanus diphtheria vaccine as part of the nationwide diphtheria response.
He added that over one million vaccine doses from the Gavi-funded global stockpile were deployed to strengthen meningitis outbreak control efforts, particularly in northern parts of the country.
Speaking on malaria control, Mr Pate told PulseNets that Nigeria has taken a historic step with the introduction of its first-ever malaria vaccine.
“As the country bearing the world’s highest malaria burden, accounting for approximately 39.3 per cent of malaria-related deaths among children under five, deployment of the R21 Matrix-M vaccine marks a major public health milestone,” he said.
PulseNets learnt that the malaria vaccine rollout commenced in Bayelsa and Kebbi states, with Kebbi State alone targeting 179,542 children between the ages of five and 15 months.
According to the minister, Nigeria has so far received one million doses of the malaria vaccine, comprising 846,200 doses supplied through Gavi and an additional 153,800 doses financed directly by the federal government, with plans underway for wider scale-up.
Mr Pate also noted that Nigeria is gradually being defined not only by its disease burden but by growing leadership in domestic resource mobilisation and global disease control initiatives.
He disclosed that in 2025, the federal government committed 54 million dollars in domestic resources to the global fight against tuberculosis and emerged as Africa’s largest contributor to the Global Fund, an announcement made at the most recent G20 meeting in Johannesburg.
“These gains are substantive,” the minister emphasised.
PulseNets reported that Mr Pate attributed the progress to sustained increases in health sector financing at federal, state and local government levels, covering primary healthcare infrastructure, workforce development and large-scale vaccination campaigns. He said these efforts have strengthened global confidence in Nigeria as a provider of health solutions.
On cervical cancer elimination, the minister said Nigeria continues to prioritise prevention through early vaccination, noting that although about 12,000 Nigerian women are diagnosed with cervical cancer annually, the disease remains preventable through timely Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination.
He explained that since the launch of the HPV vaccination programme in October 2023 across 15 states and the Federal Capital Territory, over 14 million eligible girls aged nine to 14 years have been vaccinated, representing more than 90 per cent coverage nationwide.
Mr Pate told PulseNets that these achievements reflect deliberate sector-wide reforms and improved coordination through the Sector Wide Approach, which aligns all tiers of government with development partners and non-governmental organisations.
He added that formal approval has recently been granted for an additional ₦68 billion for vaccine financing and related requirements, with the funds already lodged at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and scheduled for release.
According to the minister, the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu goes beyond economic reforms and infrastructure investment, placing strong emphasis on the development and wellbeing of the Nigerian people.
He noted that Nigeria’s population of over 240 million is increasingly demonstrating commitment to accessing quality healthcare services and preventive tools that protect lives, reduce avoidable illness and sustain productivity.
PulseNets learnt that this progress is reflected in measurable improvements in health service utilisation nationwide.
“In the second quarter of 2024, health facilities nationwide recorded approximately 10 million hospital visits. By the second quarter of 2025, visits exceeded 45 million, representing a more than fourfold increase,” Mr Pate disclosed.
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He explained that the surge reflects increased utilisation of essential and life-saving services, particularly immunisation, among Nigeria’s youthful population, which had previously faced barriers such as misinformation, distrust and limited access.
Mr Pate maintained that the administration remains committed to ensuring that preventable illness and avoidable deaths no longer limit Nigerians’ ability to live healthy, productive and dignified lives.
