TAConnect Vaccinates Over 11,000 Children in Kano, Targets Zero-Dose Reduction

Technical Advice Connect (TAConnect), a non-governmental organization funded by the Pfizer Foundation, announced on Thursday, June 19, 2025, that it vaccinated 11,348 children under two years old against childhood killer diseases in Kano State over the past 12 months. The disclosure was made by TAConnect’s Technical Director, Dr. Layi Jaiyeola, during a project dissemination meeting in collaboration with the Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board (KSPHCMB) in Kano. The initiative, part of an accelerated vaccination uptake project, targeted 15 local government areas (LGAs), including 10 with high zero-dose rates, such as Wudil, Dawakin Kudu, Tofa, Garun Malam, Kiru, Bebeji, Tudun Wada, Tarauni, Nassarawa, and Kumbotso. The project focused on administering pentavalent, rotavirus, and measles vaccines, reaching 5,239 male and 6,109 female children.

Dr. Jaiyeola highlighted efforts to dispel myths and cultural-religious barriers to vaccination, adopting a human-centered approach to design interventions tailored to community needs. The project also integrated services, providing over 5,900 women with education on nutrition, hygiene, and birth spacing, and referring 2,500 women to health facilities for maternal and newborn services. Jaiyeola emphasized that the results demonstrate the potential to reduce the zero-dose burden, with TAConnect committed to ongoing support. KSPHCMB’s Director General, Dr. Nasiru Mahmud, represented by Director Jazuli Jafar, praised the intervention and expressed hope for continued partnerships to enhance primary healthcare. Dr. Sharrif Yahaya, KSPHCMB’s Director of Disease Control, noted the state’s commitment to routine immunization through a dedicated budget line. Posts on X, like @DailyTrust, lauded the initiative’s impact, though @KanoChronicle urged sustained funding to maintain coverage, given Kano’s 2024 immunization rate of 52% (UNICEF).