The United Nations Children’s Fund, in collaboration with the Lagos State Government, will commence a two-week mass immunisation of children and female teenagers starting from October 19, 2024.
Speaking at a two media dialogue titled, ‘A Media Dialogue to Enhance Routine Immunisation and Reduce Zero Dose Children,’ Immunisation Programme Coordinator for the Lagos State Public Health Board, Dr Adetona Akinpelu, said the campaign primarily focused on children aged nine to 59 months.
He noted that this initiative was part of UNICEF’s commitment to protecting children from life-threatening diseases such as tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, measles, and HPV.
Akinpelu, on Thursday, stressed that the campaign aimed to close the immunity gaps that had widened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also disclosed that 63,981 personnel, including 14,218 health workers, would be required to carry out the exercise.
He said, “This campaign will target 21 million residents starting from October 19, 2024, and will run for two weeks. This will cover about 80 per cent of Lagos State’s population, and reduce vaccine-preventable diseases.”
He also stressed the importance of media involvement in educating the public to ensure the campaign’s success.
Addressing challenges, Akinpelu acknowledged the ongoing exodus of healthcare professionals, commonly referred to as the “Japa syndrome.”
However, he expressed confidence in the state’s preparedness through partnerships with public and private sectors, healthcare training institutions, and retired health professionals.
Chief of the UNICEF Field Office in Nigeria, Celine Lafoucriere, speaking virtually, said the campaign was part of efforts to reduce the 2.3 million unimmunised children in Nigeria, particularly those in hard-to-reach areas.
She pointed out that these “zero-dose children” were at significant risk of death due to a lack of immunisation against vaccine-preventable diseases.
“We still have a pressing challenge in Nigeria, where 2.3 million children have never received any vaccines,” Lafoucriere said.
She explained that UNICEF had prioritised 100 local government areas across 18 states with the highest concentration of zero-dose children, saying the goal was to increase the vaccination rate by 50 per cent annually and by 30 per cent by 2025.
Lafoucriere also appealed to the media to help raise awareness, dispel misinformation, and promote vaccination.
Assistant Immunisation Programme Officer for the Lagos State Public Health Board, Dr Adeniyi Adebayo, explained the importance of vaccinating every child.
He explained that zero-dose children, who were never immunised from birth, were highly vulnerable to diseases, while under-immunised children are those whose vaccinations were incomplete.
He urged parents to take advantage of the free vaccines provided in Nigeria to ensure their children’s health.
A Social and Behaviour Change Specialist at UNICEF, Aderonke Akinwole, also called for greater commitment from the government and stakeholders to address vaccine coverage challenges.
She noted that many Nigerian communities harboured misconceptions about vaccines, with some believing that because previous generations survived without them, current generations did not need them.
She warned that such beliefs were dangerous and urged for a culturally sensitive approach to dispel these myths.
“Ignorance is never an excuse. Just because someone survived without vaccines doesn’t mean another child will,” Akinwole said.