Mass Vaccination Drive Reaches 490,000 Children in Maiduguri to Curb Diphtheria

A joint vaccination campaign led by Médecins Sans Frontières and the Borno State Ministry of Health immunised nearly 490,000 children under 14 in the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council between 9 and 15 February. A second round from 9 to 15 April targeted around 360,000 of those children to reinforce protection. Despite vaccine shortages, the exercise boosted immunity in one of the outbreak’s hardest-hit areas. Since May 2022, Nigeria has reported over 65,000 suspected diphtheria cases and more than 2,200 deaths, according to the national disease control centre. Borno remains heavily affected by low routine immunisation, conflict-driven displacement and limited healthcare access. MSF has treated over 7,400 suspected cases in Borno since 2023 and is supporting efforts in Bauchi, Kano and Sokoto. The organisation says sustained immunisation, better access in volatile areas and increased vaccine supply are essential to prevent future outbreaks.

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