NATIONAL PROGRAM ON IMMUNISATION ACT
Act · Health
An Act establishes the National Programme on Immunization to coordinate and implement vaccination activities across Nigeria. It targets children, mothers, healthcare providers, and government agencies to ensure widespread vaccine delivery. The act aims to reduce illness and death from preventable diseases.
What Is This Policy?
The NPI Act is Nigeria’s primary legislation establishing the National Programme on Immunization, tasked with coordinating, implementing, and monitoring immunization activities nationwide. It provides the legal foundation for vaccination campaigns, cold chain infrastructure, and disease surveillance.
Who Does It Target?
The Act is directed at all Nigerian children and mothers, ensuring they receive vaccines against preventable diseases. It also targets healthcare providers, government agencies, and development partners, mandating them to collaborate in immunization delivery.
What Does It Aim to Achieve?
The central objective of the NPI Act is to reduce childhood morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases. It seeks to ensure universal access to vaccines, strengthen cold chain systems, and coordinate national immunization campaigns.
Key Features
Establishment of NPI Management Board to oversee immunization programs. Coordination of vaccine procurement, distribution, and cold chain systems. Implementation of national immunization schedules for children and mothers. Monitoring and evaluation of immunization coverage. Collaboration with international partners (WHO, UNICEF, Gavi).
Current Status
Rollout Stage: active Coverage: applies nationwide Beneficiaries to Date: Millions of Nigerian children immunized against polio, measles, tuberculosis, and other diseases. Funding: Federal budget allocations, donor support (WHO, UNICEF, Gavi), and state contributions.
How to Access
Full text available via: Center for Laws of Nigeria (official repository). Federal Ministry of Health and NPHCDA websites.
Important Terms
Term 1- Immunization Schedule: A timetable of vaccines administered at specific ages to protect children from diseases. Term 2- Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPDs): Illnesses like polio, measles, diphtheria, and tuberculosis that can be prevented through immunization.
Official Resources
National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA): https://nphcda.gov.ng Headquarters: Abuja. Email: [email protected] Federal Ministry of Health: https://health.gov.ng Oversees national immunization policy. Link to document- Link to document
Legal Framework
The National Programme on Immunization Act provides the statutory basis for Nigeria's immunization programme. It operates alongside the National Health Act 2014, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency Act, and the Quarantine Act. Nigeria's obligations under the WHO's Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), the GAVI Alliance framework agreements, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3.8 — Universal Health Coverage) provide the international context.