The Year 2024 Measles and Yellow Fever Mass Vaccination Campaigna chieved significant milestones with 3,595,461 children being vaccinated against measles, representing 85% coverage;
20,366,405 Lagos residents received the yellow fever vaccine, achieving 95% coverage, while 163,553 eligible persons were vaccinated against HPV.
Supervising Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Abimbola Bowale,disclosed this during a media briefing on the November Supplemental Immunisation Activities and the Polio Outbreak Response in Lagos State, which was held at Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday.
While celebrating the success of the measles and yellow fever mass vaccination campaign, Bowale said that the efforts were bolstered by large-scale social mobilization activities, which reached over 21 million people and strengthened health systems through enhanced cold-chain capacity and workforce training.
According to Bowale, "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."
Recall that the Lagos State government commenced the year 2024 Measles and Yellow Fever Integrated vaccination campaign on the 19th of October 2024.
The Integrated Supplemental Immunization Activities (SIA) campaign was a landmark public health intervention that was aimed at addressing gaps in immunization coverage and curbing the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases in Lagos State.
According to Bowale: "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 system."
Bowale said that safeguarding the lives of Lagos residents remains a priority of the Lagos State government.
To continue to ensure that the state remains free from the burden of all vaccine preventable diseases, Bowale said that the Lagos State government, in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, will implement a Polio Outbreak Response in all LGAs and LCDAs in a bid to maintain the country’s polio-free status following the certification received in August 2020.
According to Bowale: "This Outbreak Response (OBR) will hold between Saturday 18th to Tuesday 22nd January 2025.
"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."
The supervising Permanent Secretary said: "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."
According to the Supervising Permanent Secretary: "The campaign is necessary to prevent a setback in our laudable achievements if the virus is not properly curtailed and it is important to maintain the country’s polio-free status."
Bowale commended the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for his political and financial support for this critical public health initiative, the state First Lady, Claudina Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, for her unwavering support for the campaign both at the fore front and behind the scenes, as well as her dedication to safe guarding the health of Lagosians, especially the children."
According to Bowale: "By focusing on both urban and remote communities, the campaign sought to achieve herd immunity, reduce disease transmission, and strengthen routine immunization systems.
"The campaign’s phased approach was pivotal in its success."
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