The Lagos State Primary Health Care Board says about 5% of the state’s health budget directly or indirectly supports immunisation efforts.
This was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary, Ibrahim Mustafa, in an interview marking World Immunisation Week.
He noted that Lagos has also achieved a routine immunisation coverage rate of 66%, reflecting ongoing investments in vaccine delivery and health systems.
What he is saying
Mustafa explained that immunisation in Lagos is funded through a mix of federal vaccine supply and state-level investment in logistics, cold chain systems, and service delivery.
- He added that the efforts are supported by agencies such as the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, alongside international partners including the World Health Organization, UNICEF, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and AFENET.
- “The state now commits a lot of resources to ensure that these vaccines get to the arms of the children,” he said.
- However, he warned that persistent gaps continue to undermine full coverage, disclosing that Lagos currently has between 120,000 and 130,000 zero-dose children, many of whom reside in informal or hard-to-reach communities such as Makoko, parts of Alimosho, and Ikorodu.
- He also explained that rapid migration into Lagos contributes significantly to the gaps, as many families arrive with children who have not started or completed their vaccination schedules.
Despite the challenges, he noted that Lagos remains one of Nigeria’s better-performing states due to its relatively strong health system, which continues to attract residents from across the country.
More insights
Mustafa said the state had also made significant progress in expanding newer vaccines, particularly the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which protects against cervical cancer.
Introduced about two years ago for girls aged nine to 14, the programme initially faced strong resistance driven by misinformation and distrust.
- “At one point, vaccinators faced hostility, including physical attacks in parts of Ibeju-Lekki, prompting us to deploy security escorts.”
To counter the hesitancy, he said, an extensive public engagement campaign involving religious and community leaders, media outreach and social media advocacy was inaugurated by the government.
The strategy, he disclosed, paid off, as no fewer than 1.5 million girls had now received the HPV vaccine, with acceptance rising sharply after initial resistance.
- “We moved from very serious hesitancy to strong demand. Now, in many cases, people are asking for the vaccine themselves,” he said.
What you should know
Nigeria has the highest number of zero-dose children globally, with about 2.1 million recorded in 2023, mostly concentrated in northern states.
A zero-dose child is one who has not received any routine vaccines, increasing vulnerability to preventable diseases and weakening herd immunity.
According to the World Health Organization, vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives over the past 50 years, making immunisation one of the most effective public health interventions.
World Immunisation Week, observed from April 24 to 30, promotes the importance of vaccines in protecting people of all ages, with this year’s theme: “For every generation, vaccines work.”
It’s interesting that Lagos is prioritizing immunization like this. How do they plan to increase that coverage even more?