Challenges and Prospects of Vectored Vaccine Platforms in the Nigerian Public Health System

Background:

Nigeria faces ongoing public health challenges from emerging and re-emerging viral infections, including Lassa fever, yellow fever, and COVID-19. In such settings, conventional vaccine strategies have often proven insufficient for timely outbreak response. Viral-vectored vaccines offer a promising alternative due to their strong immunogenicity, single-dose potential, and scalability.

Objective:

This review aims to assess the key challenges and future opportunities for integrating viral vectored vaccine platforms into Nigeria’s public health system.

Methods:

A secondary data review was conducted using peer-reviewed literature, national reports, and global health databases published between 2020 and 2024. Sources were selected based on relevance to vectored vaccines, public health infrastructure, and infectious disease response in Nigeria.

Results:

The review identified major obstacles to adoption, including limited local vaccine manufacturing capacity, cold-chain infrastructure gaps, and regulatory delays. Public trust and misinformation also remain significant barriers. However, recent successes with vectored vaccines for Ebola and COVID-19 in Africa suggest high potential for broader use. Nigeria’s growing biomedical research capacity, combined with strategic partnerships, could enhance deployment in future outbreaks.

Conclusion:

Despite infrastructural and regulatory challenges, vectored vaccine platforms have significant potential in Nigeria. Advancing their adoption will require investment in local production, community engagement, and streamlined approval processes. These efforts can improve epidemic preparedness and health system resilience.