Descriptive analysis of routine childhood vaccination coverage of selected vaccines in Nigeria (1980–2023) using the Global Burden of Disease Study (2023)

Abstract

Routine childhood immunization remains an effective public health intervention for reducing childhood morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases. This study examined trends in routine childhood vaccination coverage in Nigeria from 1980 to 2023. We conducted a retrospective secondary descriptive analysis using routine childhood vaccination coverage estimates from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023. Annual national coverage estimates for BCG, DTP3, Polio3, MCV1, and HepB3 vaccines were analyzed from 1980 to 2023. Temporal trends were assessed using line plots and forest plots with associated 95% uncertainty intervals, and the highest and lowest performing years for each vaccine were identified. Coverage for all assessed vaccines was lowest in 1980, followed by gradual expansion during the late 1980s and early 1990s, stagnation between the mid-1990s and early 2000s, and improvement after 2005. Peak coverage occurred between 2019 and 2021 for most vaccines, with BCG reaching the highest in 2021 at 73.6% (95% UI: 64.7-78.3). However, no vaccine achieved the WHO target of 90% national coverage throughout the study period. Although Nigeria has made measurable progress in routine childhood immunization over four decades, coverage remains below optimal levels, highlighting the need for targeted and equitable immunization strategies.