New vaccines: Catalyst for improving immunisation coverage, child survival

THE Federal Government through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) supports and provides leadership for the development of primary health care (PHC) system in Nigeria. 

  The Agency has seven goals as follows: control preventable diseases; improve access to basic health services; improve quality of care; strengthen institutions; develop high performing health workforce; strengthen partnerships; and strengthen community engagement. 

  It achieves these goals by supporting States and LGAs in developing sustainable system of PHC services that are accessible, affordable and of good quality through the participation of individuals, families and communities in partnership with government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

  In the recent past, some major accomplishments have been recorded in the increasing coverage for routine immunization (RI), Midwives Service Scheme (MSS), Measles Control, and the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI). The improvement in the RI coverage has immensely contributed to the reduction in the morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). 

  For instance; the sustained OPV3 coverage >80 per cent is most probably responsible for the significant reduction in the WPV transmission in the country; sustained improvement in the measles RI coverage >80 per cent in most States is also responsible for the reduced morbidity and mortality from measles cases nationwide.

  Some of the key factors responsible for improved RI performance in the country are sustained vaccine availability; the overhauling of the immunization system in general, coordinated planning in collaboration with our development partners and other key stakeholders, and the new vaccine introduction in the country. The NPHCDA has ensured that this is on-going on a sustainable basis.

  Infectious diseases are still responsible for nearly 30 per cent of all deaths worldwide; more than 15 million people die every year, mostly in low-income and middle-income countries. The Global Immunization Vision and Strategy (GIVS) 2006-2015, for fighting VPDs has 3 priority objectives: (1) immunize more people against more diseases (2) introduce a range of newly available vaccines and technologies, and (3) provide a number of critical health interventions through immunization. 

  The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) prescribes attainment by 2015, of an under 5-mortality rate of not more than 75/1000 live births (MDG4). The 2008 National Demographic & Health Survey (NDHS) estimated Nigeria’s under 5-mortality rate to be 157, declining at a rate of 1.2 per cent annually. 

  This rate of progress was deemed insufficient to keep the country on track to achieve MDG4. Nigeria must therefore commit to and implement high impact interventions aimed at reducing the child deaths. 

  Pentavalent Vaccine Introduction

  The Pentavalent vaccine is a combination vaccine that protects infants against the following 5 diseases: diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) pneumonia and meningitis. Prior to 2012, the RI schedule consisted of the traditional vaccines: BCG, OPV, DPT, Measles and Yellow Fever Vaccines. Commencing in May 2012, Nigeria introduced the Pentavalent Vaccine into its National Immunization Schedule in a phased manner over a 3-year period; in order to reduce substantially child mortality from pneumonia and meningitis and thus save up to 30,000 lives annually following full introduction. Currently, it is available in all PHC facilities nationwide.

  However, pneumonia is a disease that can be caused by a number of other infectious agents that include bacteria, viruses and fungi; the most common in children being Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus). The Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) – is the second most common cause of bacterial pneumonia. Other causes are the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and in infants infected with HIV, Pneumocystis jiroveci is one of the commonest causes of pneumonia.

  Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine-10 (PCV-10) Introduction

  Most recently, we have also introduced the PCV-10 to protect infants against the diseases caused by the pneumococcal bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae) such as pneumonia, meningitis and bacteraemia.  The national launch event was conducted on the 22nd December 2014 at Lokoja, Kogi State. 

  The 12 States of the federation that commenced this phased introduction were selected on zonal basis, immunization coverage and their capacities to receive and store the new vaccine, viz: Adamawa, Yobe, Kaduna, Katsina, Kogi, Plateau, Ondo, Osun, Edo, Rivers, Anambra and Ebonyi. This introduction of the PCV-10 is continuing in a phased manner that by 2017, it will be available to infants in all the States and the FCT.

  Supplemental Immunization Vaccines

  Other supplemental vaccines such as Measles, Yellow Fever and the newer MenAfriVac vaccine that protects against the commonest cause of cerebro-spinal meningitis (CSM) serotype A are also given as needed. 

  In the period 2011-2014, the MenAfriVac vaccine was administered through the 23 meningitis belt States in Nigeria to an extended age-group of 1 – 29 years old in our effort to eliminate CSM serotype A as a major public health issue. 

  The NDHS 2003, 2008 and 2013 have indicated a gradual, sustained improvement in child survival indices. The introduction of these new vaccines will further reduce childhood mortality rates in Nigeria. 

   IPV Introduction as End Game Strategy for the PEI

  The country has made an unprecedented progress in its polio eradication strategy (PEI) in the past 1 year. There have been only 6 confirmed cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in 2 States in 2014 compared to 50 cases in 9 States for the same period in 2013; with the date of onset of latest WPV case being 24th July 2014. There have been no confirmed WPV3 since November 20124.

  The import of the above is that Nigeria is now moving  towards the interuption of the wild poliovirus (WPV); to be achieved by July 2015. Through the combined efforts of governments and other key stakeholders, we are going to even put up more efforts into the next two years to ensure certification of the country as polio-free. 

   Hitherto, only variants of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) have been used in our RI and the PEI efforts. However, as the country enters into the polio endgame, we have now introduced the injectable polio vaccine (IPV) to complement the supplemental effort. Initially, the IPV was introduced in the polio-endemic States of Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi and Kano. But, commencing from the first quarter of 2015, the IPV will also be available to be delivered in the RI schedule to all eligible children at age of 14 weeks, in addition to the OPV that is given in the traditional four-dose RI schedule. The IPV given at that age is intercalated with the OPV and is expected to boost the child’s immunity further to confer higher protection against the poliovirus.

  The Rotavirus Vaccine

  The rotavirus vaccine is an oral vaccine against rotavirus infection, a common cause of diarrhea and sickness, typically striking babies and young children. The unpleasant bouts of diarrhea are sometimes followed with vomiting, tummy ache and fever. The disease accounts for about half of the hospitalizations for severe diarrhea in infants and children. 

  A significant number of those children affected by the infection may die. The incidence and severity of the rotavirus infection have declined significantly as seen in those countries that have added Rotavirus vaccination to their routine childhood immunization. When introduced into our RI schedule in the 3rd quarter of 2015, it will be administered to infants on 2 visits at ages of 6 and 10 weeks.

  Other Health Strengthening Efforts

  Apart from the Rota Virus vaccine that is administered orally, all the other newly introduced vaccines are in form of injection. This necessitates for the health service provider to have good working knowledge of injection safety and apply the appropriate injection techniques during vaccine administration. The programme ensures the use of auto-destruct (AD) syringes, universal safety boxes and proper waste disposal, including incineration of the injection wastes.

  Through other channels and related programmes, families and communities are regularly educated on the benefits of other non-vaccine but highly effective measures such as exclusive breastfeeding for the newborn up till 6 months of age, adequate nutrition, reducing indoor air pollution and hand washing. Zinc supplements are given to reduce morbidity from diarrhoeal diseases while health-worker training in PHCs nationwide include capacity building for early detection and to manage and/or treat minor ailments.

  The Midwives Service Scheme (MSS) & SURE-P Maternal & Child Health (MCH)

The MSS and SURE-P MCH both operate in 1,000 health facilities with a compliment of 4 midwives and 2 CHEWs per facility; this is a human resource pool of about 8,000 midwives and 2,000 CHEWs at the frontlines. 

  We have put in place mechanisms for supply of drugs and commodities and in some places provided boreholes to complement the health services. These schemes serve a population of over 25 million Nigerians and have not only provided a platform for immunization services in the country but also a base for improving the health system of the country with special emphasis on PHC. 

  The MSS and the SURE-P MCH projects which are under the NPHCDA feed into the Save One Million Lives (SOML) Initiative, which is coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Health. A combination of expanded access to maternal health care with the introduction of the new vaccines will surpass the anticipated reduction in disease burden, improve quality of motherhood and childhood, and in general improve the quality of life of the average Nigerian. 

Justification

  The introduction of new vaccines (Pentavalent, PCV, IPV, Rotavirus vaccines etc.) will help Nigeria to significantly reduce childhood mortality and accelerate the achievement of the MDGs. These new vaccines will help avert an additional 486,957 deaths over a 6-year period. To achieve the MDG 4 targets (70 U-5 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2015), Nigeria needs prompt action to drive down U-5 mortality by  ~ 30 per cent (from the current 128/1000 live births). As Nigeria’s population is approximately 16 per cent of Africa’s, our attainment of the health MDG targets will significantly improve the health outcomes in Africa as a whole.

•Dr. Ado Muhammad is the Executive Director/CEO, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Abuja