Childhood Vaccines: What Nigerian Parents Should Know

Author: Queen Uduak Affiang, MBBS

Medical Reviewer: Oke Ikpekpe, MSc (PH)

Highlight

• Childhood vaccines protect children against serious infectious diseases, including polio, measles, tuberculosis, and rotavirus.
• Nigeria’s routine immunisation programme provides vaccines at specific ages, starting from birth.
• Vaccines help prevent serious complications, reduce disease outbreaks, and protect vulnerable members of the community.
• Most childhood vaccine side effects are mild and temporary, such as fever, soreness, and irritability.
• Parents should keep their child’s immunisation card safe, attend scheduled appointments, and ask about missed doses.
• Seek urgent medical attention if your child develops difficulty breathing, facial swelling, convulsions, or other serious symptoms after vaccination.

Introduction

Childhood vaccines are medicines that help protect children from serious and preventable infectious diseases. They train the body’s immune system to identify and fight specific germs. This trained immune system will then be able to help protect against the diseases that these germs cause. Vaccines may contain inactivated or weakened germs or parts of germs, or other components that stimulate the immune system to develop protection without causing any disease.

Babies receive some temporary protection from their mothers through antibodies passed across the placenta during pregnancy and also from breast milk [1]. However, this protection gradually decreases, and babies need to develop their own immunity. Childhood vaccinations help provide this protection against vaccine-preventable diseases such as tuberculosis, measles, whooping cough, hepatitis B, and rotavirus infection, which can cause severe diarrhoea. 

In Nigeria, children receive vaccines at different ages, starting at birth. Knowing which vaccines your child needs and when they are due can help you keep their vaccinations on track. This article explains the common childhood vaccines, the diseases they prevent, possible side effects, what to do before and after vaccination, and when to seek medical help. 

Why Are Childhood Vaccines Important?

Childhood vaccines remain greatly important because of the following:

1. They protect your child from serious diseases. The immunity of babies and young children is still developing; this means they are more vulnerable to some infections. Vaccines help build their immunity against serious diseases such as measles, polio, whooping cough and other vaccine-preventable diseases  [2].

2. They help reduce the risk of serious complications. Some vaccine-preventable diseases can cause complications such as paralysis, brain damage, or death. Vaccination greatly reduces the risk of these illnesses and their potentially lasting effects [3].

3. They help protect the community through herd immunity. As more people are vaccinated, certain infections are less likely to spread. This helps protect babies who are too young to receive some vaccines and people with weakened immune systems [4].

4. They support your child’s healthy growth and development. By reducing the risk of serious vaccine-preventable illnesses, vaccination helps children spend less time being sick and more time learning, playing, and growing [5].

5. They help prevent disease outbreaks. With high vaccination coverage, the spread of certain diseases can be greatly reduced or stopped. One disease that has successfully been globally eradicated through vaccination is Smallpox. However, diseases can return when vaccination coverage falls. 

Common Childhood Vaccines in Nigeria

Nigeria's routine immunisation programme includes vaccines that protect children against several infectious and life-threatening diseases. Specific vaccines are offered according to the following:

• Child's age 
• Vaccination history
• Current national recommendations
• Availability of particular vaccines

Some common childhood vaccines and the diseases they help prevent include:

• BCG vaccine: Helps protect against severe forms of tuberculosis, particularly in young children.
• Polio vaccines: Poliomyelitis (polio) is a deadly disease which affects the nervous system and can cause paralysis within hours. Polio vaccine helps prevent this disease.
• Rotavirus vaccine: Helps protect against rotavirus, a common cause of severe diarrhoea and dehydration in young children.
• Hepatitis B vaccine: Helps protect against hepatitis B infection, which can cause serious liver disease.
• Pentavalent vaccine: protects your child against five diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).
• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV): pneumococcal bacteria cause pneumococcal diseases such as: pneumonia, meningitis, ear and sinus infections  and bloodstream infections. PCV helps protect your child against these diseases. 
• Malaria vaccine: helps protect against malaria, especially severe illness 
• Measles-rubella (MR) vaccine: measles and rubella are highly contagious diseases and can cause serious complications. The MR vaccine protects your child from having these diseases. 
• Yellow fever vaccine: protects against yellow fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease that can be severe.
• Meningitis vaccine: protects against meningitis.
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine: helps protect against HPV types that cause most cervical cancers and some other cancers. Nigeria's HPV vaccination programme targets eligible girls, with delivery arrangements and eligibility determined by current national guidance.
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When Should Children Get Their Vaccines?

Some infections are especially dangerous during the first year of life, therefore, children need vaccines at specific ages, when they need it most to give them protection. As a parent, you should confirm with your healthcare provider that the immunisation schedule where you want your child to get vaccinated is current [6]. This is because the schedule can be updated based on national recommendations. You are also encouraged to follow the recommended routine immunisation schedule and keep your child's immunisation card up to date.

The following are the ages and recommended vaccines for your child.

Are Childhood Vaccines Safe?

All childhood vaccines undergo a series of safety testing before approval. Continuous monitoring of the safety of these vaccines is ensured even after they are introduced. Additionally, most children tolerate routine vaccines well, with or without side effects. Serious vaccine-related reactions are very rare.

 You should inform your healthcare worker about any previous severe allergic reactions or conditions affecting your child's immunity. 

What side effects can children experience?

Some children develop side effects after vaccination. Depending on the vaccine, the side effects are mild and usually resolve within a day or a few days. These side effects can include:

• Fever
• Swelling and pain where an injectable m vaccine was given.
• Irritability or crying more than usual.
• Temporary tiredness or reduced appetite

What Should Parents Do Before and After Vaccination?

Preparing for your child’s vaccination will make it easier for you and your child. 

Before vaccination

• Before vaccination, dress your child in comfortable clothing that ensures easy access to the upper arm or thigh for administration of injectable vaccines.

• Take your child’s immunisation card along with you to the health facility. Your doctor or nurse will look through the card and identify which vaccines your child has taken or is yet to take.

• Inform your healthcare worker about your child’s health concerns, including allergies, previous side effects or reactions and current illness.

• Breastfeeding your baby before or during vaccination can help comfort them. 

• Ask questions about which vaccines your child will receive, what side effects to expect, and what to do when your child has side effects.

After vaccination

• After vaccination, comfort your child by singing to them, cuddling and holding them, and breastfeeding where appropriate.

• Avoid rubbing or pressing the injection site unnecessarily. Instead, apply a cool, clean cloth to the injection site.

• Do not be in a hurry to leave the vaccination centre. You should stay at the vaccination centre for at least 30 minutes.

• While waiting, observe your child for any unusual change in behaviour or feeding habits.

• For mild symptoms like fever, paracetamol may be given according to the dose prescribed by your healthcare provider.

• Allow the child to rest.

• Record the next vaccination date and keep the immunisation card somewhere safe; also take a picture of it after each immunisation.

• If you are unsure how to manage a reaction, contact your healthcare provider for advice.

When Should You Seek Medical Help After Vaccination?

Side effects after vaccinations are not unusual. They are usually mild and temporary, occurring within the first day or two and resolve on their own. However, as a parent and caregiver, you should know how to recognise symptoms that require medical attention.

Common, Mild Reactions

The following reactions are generally normal and can often be managed at home:

• Pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site.
• A low-grade fever 
• Your baby may be fussier than usual 
• Your child may sleep a little more than usual  
• Your child may feed less than usual 
• Older children may experience temporary soreness or tiredness.

Warning Signs That Require Medical Attention

Seek emergency medical care immediately if your child develops any of the following:

• Abnormal breathing
• Blue or grey lips, hands, and feet
• Swelling of the face, lips, or other parts of the body other than the injection site.
• Collapse or fainting 
• Difficulty waking the child.
• Convulsion
• High-grade fever 38°C (100.4°F) 
• Persistent inconsolable crying, especially lasting three hours or more.
• Increasing swelling or discharge at the injection site.
• Repeated vomiting 
• Any symptom that is worsening or causing you significant concern.

Some reactions depend on the vaccine given. For example, fever or a rash may develop later after certain vaccines, such as the measles-rubella vaccine.

Conclusion

Childhood vaccination is very important in protecting children from deadly diseases that can result in irreversible complications and even death. In Nigeria, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), under the Federal Ministry of Health ensures the continuous safety of all vaccines. You are encouraged to always speak with a qualified healthcare professional about your concerns on vaccines. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1.  Are childhood vaccines free in Nigeria?

Yes. Routine childhood vaccines are provided free of charge at government primary healthcare centres and designated public immunisation sites. 

2. Can children receive vaccines if they have a mild cold?

In most cases, yes. A mild cold or low-grade fever does not usually prevent vaccination. However, tell the healthcare worker about your child's symptoms so they can determine whether vaccination should proceed.

3. What should I do if I lose my child's immunisation card?

Return to the health facility where your child was vaccinated. The healthcare worker may be able to retrieve the vaccination history and/or provide a solution.4. Can my child receive a missed vaccine later?Yes, many missed vaccines can be given through catch-up immunisation. 

5. Is it normal for a child to develop a fever after vaccination?

After vaccination, your child may have a mild fever, and that is normal. Talk to your health worker if the fever is high, persists, or is accompanied by worrying symptoms.

References

Disclaimer:
The information provided on this website is for general educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Published October 27, 2026