The National Programme on Immunisation (NPI), run by NPHCDA, provides the following vaccines free of charge at government health facilities in Nigeria. Private clinics including Mascot Healthcare can advise on the schedule and refer for government vaccines or provide additional vaccines on the private schedule.
| Age | Vaccines due | Disease prevented | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | BCG, OPV0, Hepatitis B birth dose | TB, Polio, Hepatitis B | BCG scar should appear within 6 weeks |
| 6 weeks | OPV1, Penta1 (DPT+HepB+Hib), PCV1, Rota1, IPV1 | Polio, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hepatitis B, Hib, Pneumococcus, Rotavirus | Missed birth doses given now |
| 10 weeks | OPV2, Penta2, PCV2, Rota2, IPV2 | Same as 6-week set | 4-week minimum interval from last dose |
| 14 weeks | OPV3, Penta3, PCV3, IPV3 | Same as above | Completes primary series |
| 6 months | Vitamin A supplementation | Vitamin A deficiency | Every 6 months until age 5 |
| 9 months | Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine, Yellow Fever, Meningococcal A | Measles, Rubella, Yellow Fever, Meningitis A | Yellow fever certificate issued |
| 12–15 months | MR2 (second dose) | Measles, Rubella booster | Completes measles series |
| 18 months | DPT booster, OPV booster | Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio boosters | Booster doses maintain immunity |
Catch-up vaccination is available — children who missed vaccines do not need to start the entire series over again. A catch-up schedule is determined by the child's current age and which vaccines were received. Bring your child's immunisation card to Mascot Healthcare and we will advise on the catch-up plan and refer to the appropriate vaccination facility.
Vaccine fever: Mild fever and irritability for 24–48 hours after DPT vaccination is normal. Give paracetamol syrup at the correct dose (15mg/kg every 6 hours). A fever above 39°C, persistent crying for more than 3 hours, or a convulsion after vaccination warrants a medical assessment.
Vaccine safety: All vaccines on the Nigerian national schedule have been evaluated by WHO and NAFDAC. The risks of vaccine-preventable diseases vastly outweigh the risks of vaccination. The MMR-autism claim (from a fraudulent 1998 paper) has been comprehensively disproven in studies of millions of children.
About the author: Dr. Adebayo Okonkwo is general practitioner, mascot healthcare at Mascot Healthcare, Akoka, Lagos. This article is reviewed annually and updated to reflect current guidelines and data.
Paediatric primary care at Mascot Healthcare, Akoka. Walk-in from ₦5,000. All ages.