Immunization is the most effective protection you can give a child, and it is free through Nigeria's National Programme on Immunization. It works best when doses are given on time and the schedule is completed.

Many parents worry about bringing a well child for an injection. It helps to remember what the alternative looks like: measles pneumonia, tetanus in a newborn, or the paralysis of polio. These are illnesses our team has seen, and they are illnesses vaccination prevents.

The routine schedule in Nigeria

Nigeria's routine schedule follows this pattern. Bring your child's immunization card to every visit, and keep the card safe — it is the record of what has been given.

At birth

  • BCG — protects against severe forms of tuberculosis.
  • Oral polio vaccine (birth dose) — the first protection against polio.
  • Hepatitis B (birth dose) — best given within the first day of life.

At 6, 10 and 14 weeks

Three visits, each building on the last:

  • Pentavalent vaccine — one injection covering diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b.
  • Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine — against a leading cause of pneumonia and meningitis in young children.
  • Oral polio vaccine — continuing doses.
  • Rotavirus vaccine — against the most common cause of severe diarrhoea in infants.
  • Inactivated polio vaccine — given as an injection at the 14-week visit.

At 9 months

  • Measles (first dose)
  • Yellow fever
  • Meningitis A

At 15 months

  • Measles (second dose) — the second dose matters. A meaningful number of children do not develop full protection from the first dose alone, and measles spreads easily enough to find them.

Confirm the current schedule at your visit

National schedules are updated from time to time as new vaccines are introduced. Our nurses will confirm exactly what is due for your child on the day, based on their age and what the card shows.

What to expect afterwards

Mild reactions are common and are a sign the immune system is responding. In the day or two after a vaccination your child may have a mild fever, be more irritable or sleepy than usual, feed a little less, or have some redness, swelling or tenderness where the injection was given.

Comfort measures help: feed normally, offer extra fluids and breastfeeds, and use a cool cloth on a sore spot. Ask us about paracetamol dosing for your child's weight rather than guessing, and never give aspirin to a child.

The BCG injection often forms a small sore that later becomes a scar over several weeks. This is expected. Keep it clean and dry, and do not apply anything to it.

Bring your child back straight away if

There is a high fever that does not settle, a convulsion, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or mouth, a widespread rash, persistent inconsolable crying, or unusual floppiness or unresponsiveness. Serious reactions are rare, but they need to be seen promptly.

If you have missed a dose

Missed doses are common and are not a reason to give up on the schedule. In almost all cases the course can be continued from where it stopped — you do not have to start again from the beginning. Bring the card and we will work out what is still needed.

Questions parents often ask

Can my child be vaccinated while unwell?

A mild illness such as a runny nose, with or without a low fever, is generally not a reason to postpone. A significant fever or a more serious illness may be. Let the nurse assess your child rather than staying away.

Is it safe to give several vaccines on the same day?

Yes. The schedule is designed this way, and giving them together does not overwhelm a child's immune system. It also means fewer trips and fewer missed doses.

Are vaccines safe if my child was born early or is small?

Premature and low-birth-weight babies are usually vaccinated according to their actual age since birth, and they benefit particularly from protection. Discuss your baby's history with us so we can advise precisely.

Immunization at Fountain of Hope Hospital

Our pediatric service covers routine immunization, growth and development monitoring, wellness checks and treatment of childhood illness. Book a visit through this website or call +234 803 355 3087.

A note on this article. This information is general health education and does not replace a consultation. Every patient is different, and advice that suits one person may not suit another. Please speak to a doctor or nurse at Fountain of Hope Hospital before acting on anything you read here, especially if you are pregnant, managing a long-term condition, or taking regular medication.

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