Francesca Odimgbe
The Lagos State Government said it vaccinated 3,595,461million children against measles in 2024 while a total of 20,366,405million Lagosians received the yellow fever vaccine in the same year.
The figures were revealed on Tuesday at a briefing by the Supervising Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Abimbola Bowale, while giving a report on the success story of the November Supplemental Immunisation Activities and the Polio Outbreak Response during the 2024 Measles and Yellow Fever Mass Vaccination Campaign.
While celebrating the success of the vaccination campaign, Bowale said that the ‘campaign was a testament to the unwavering commitment of our dedicated healthcare workers, the invaluable support of our partners, and the active participation of the good people of Lagos State.’
The State government commenced the year 2024 Measles and Yellow Fever Integrated vaccination campaign on the 19th of October 2024.
Bowale said the campaign was aimed at addressing gaps in immunization coverage and curbing the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases in Lagos.
“This comprehensive campaign targeted measles, yellow fever, and Human Papilloma-virus (HPV), prioritizing high-risk populations and leveraging innovative strategies to maximize impact. By focusing on both urban and remote communities, the campaign sought to achieve herd immunity, reduce disease transmission, and strengthen routine immunization systems,” Bowale said.
Bowale said that the state government is committed to safeguarding the lives of Lagos residents by ensuring the state remains free from the burden of all vaccine preventable diseases.
He said from January 18 to 22 this year, the state government will begin Polio Outbreak Response in all 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas to maintain the country’s polio free status.
“During these periods, vaccination teams will be required to visit residential homes, schools, churches, mosques, gated estates, and all public places where eligible children will be found.
If we become complacent, the entire country is vulnerable to reinfection by the wild polio-virus, especially with a recent outbreak of wild polio-virus type 1 in Malawi and Mozambique.
Therefore, every state must maintain its zero WPV status and halt the transmission of circulating variant polio-virus type 2 (cVPV2)by conducting high-quality campaigns and improving routine immunization coverage to ensure high population immunity as a deterrent against any reinfection of the wild polio-virus,” Bowale said.
In her remarks, the Special Adviser on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, thanked all relevant stakeholders and partners working with the state government in the health sector, including World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, GAVI, and community-based organizations for their support in making the campaign a success.
She noted that several lives were touched through the exercise.
“The Government has not only saved countless lives but has also taken bold steps to prevent outbreaks of diseases.”