Achieving Complete Immunization Status per Age to Reducing Risk of Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs) among Infants in Nigeria: What should be done?

Abstract

Immunization status as an outcome measure of vaccination is very critical in the prevention and control of vaccinepreventable diseases. Irrespective of several improvements in child survival strategies for over 3 decades, ARI still ranks among diseases such as malaria, diarrhea and measles responsible for majority of deaths among infants and young children in Nigeria and other developing countries. Immunity is a mechanism and process of the body system for preventing diseases by way of innate and adaptive/acquired means. This review paper, aimed at taking a critical look at how pattern of uptake of vaccination among infants according to the National Immunization Schedules under the classification of partial, complete and non-immunization status influence risk of ARI among infants. In view of this, a review of the essential literature was conducted to establish relevant concepts and evidences. It has been revealed from survey that, only 21% children had received all age-appropriate vaccinations and that 19% of children in Nigeria have not received any vaccinations. In addition, among several other studies, it was equally revealed that the Risk of ARI was higher among infants with none immunization (none and some uptake of vaccines per age) status with statistical significance (OR=1.97≈ 2, (p<0.0001, 95%CI=1.495-2.604). Meaning infants with none immunization status per age are about 2 times at Risk of contracting ARI compared to infants with complete immunization status per age in Nigeria. Hence, from the principles and mechanisms of immunization responses and evidence-based reports, it is very clear that complete immunization status per age among infants is capable of reducing the Risk of ARI in that age group. Therefore, what should be done as enumerated in this publication need to be given required attention to achieving reduction in the burden of ARI among infants in Nigeria.