Meningitis: Report sale of vaccine to law enforcement, says NPHCDA

National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) has advised the public to report any health facility or health worker charging payment for meningitis vaccine to any nearest law enforcement agency.

In a statement, NPHCDA executive director Dr Faisal Shuaib insisted, "Under no circumstances must any health worker charge members of the public to pay for such free services."

The meningitis vaccine "like other vaccination in the National Immunization schedule is provided free of charge for all members of the public by the Federal Government of Nigeria," Shuaib emphasised.

Reports spoke of health workers charging payment for the vaccine in Zamfara.

"It should be borne in mind by all patriotic, responsible and law-abiding citizens that the Federal Government spends billions of naira to procure, store, maintain and distribute such vaccines to all parts of the country including affected areas as the need arises," Shuaib said.  

Vaccine-preventable diseases covered free-of-charge under the National Immunization schedule are Bacillus Calmette Guerin – (BCG), poliomyelitis, hepatitis B, diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus toxoid-(Pentavelent vaccines) haemophilus influenza type B, pneumococcal vaccines, Inactivated Polio virus vaccines, measles, Yellow Fever and of course, meningitis vaccines," he added