Learning Objectives for this Presentation:
By the end of the presentation participants will be able to:
understand epidemiologists and vaccine safety.
understand the importance of cold chain system
Monitor and manage Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI).


Background:
Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of diseases in a population, and the application of this study to the control of health problems. Vaccine preventable diseases are being controlled through epidemiology. In order to strengthen the immunity of the population against communicable diseases, vaccines which are preparations that give immunity from an infection when given to an individual; and must therefore be administered in a safe way. Vaccines are heat sensitive, so it must be maintained in a cold chain, which is a system for transporting, storage and distribution of vaccine from the manufacturer to the vaccination site.


Setting:
Immunization activities are carried out at the health facilities, hospitals and clinics, where health care givers are responsible for the services. Adverse Event Following Immunization such as rashes, mild illness are also monitored and managed.


Population:
Immunization services are being carried out throughout the federation. Although, some group of people pose a threat to the exercise, contesting the potency of the vaccine, leading to rejection, but the challenges have been addressed by sensitizing the communities.


Project Description:
National Programme on Immunization (NPI), the only agency that carries out immunization services in Nigeria, has Routine Immunization Schedule for children 0 – 11 months at which time they must have been immunized against all the communicable diseases (such as tuberculosis, measles, whooping cough, poliomyelitis, yellow fever, hepatitis). Also antigen campaign to boost herd community and vaccination schedule for women of childbearing age. Others include various National Immunization Days.


Results/Lessons Learned:
NPI has been able to interrupt the high incidence rate of diseases and also reduce death rate in the population as efforts are towards eradicating polio.