… 2.3M Children At Risk Over Lack Of Vaccination- UNICEF
Daud Olatunji
The Lagos State government has lauded the partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund [UNICEF], as is set to embark on a massive immunization of 21 million persons against measles, yellow fever, and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).
Dr. Adetona Akinpelu, Immunization Programme Coordinator for the Lagos State Public Health Board, disclosed this during the ongoing two-day media dialogue with some journalists in the Southwest and Edo States, with the theme: ”Achieving the Health Sector SDGs for over Two million Children at Risk of Death in Nigeria: A Media Dialogue to Enhance Routine Immunization and Reduce Zero Doze Children”, held in Lagos.
Dr. Akinpelu acknowledged the vital role UNICEF plays in supporting the state’s immunization efforts.
Speaking on the planned nationwide immunisation in Lagos, Dr. Akinpelu stated that the exercise, slated to begin on October 19, is a vital move to bridge immunity gaps caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking on the initiative, Akinpelu revealed that Lagos would require a staggering 63,981 personnel to execute the exercise, including 14,218 health workers.
He explained that the immunization campaign aims to combat rising cases of vaccine-preventable diseases in the state.
“We’ve seen the ripple effect of missed vaccinations during the COVID-19 lockdown, and it’s time to close that gap,” Akinpelu said.
“This statewide campaign targets children aged 9 to 59 months for measles and those aged 9 months to 44 years for yellow fever. It covers about 80% of the state’s population, bringing the target number to 21 million.”
He emphasized the critical role of the media in educating the public on the importance of vaccinations, ensuring a successful turnout for the campaign.
“We need to reduce the immunity gaps caused by breaks in routine vaccination schedules,” he added.
Amid the growing trend of health professionals leaving Nigeria—often referred to as the “Japa syndrome”—the state faces a challenge in meeting its personnel requirement for the campaign.
However, Dr. Akinpelu expressed confidence in the state’s preparedness.
He said “It’s not an easy task, but through collaborations with both public and private sectors, schools training healthcare workers, and retired health professionals, we are confident we can meet the required numbers.
The campaign also places a strong focus on vaccinating girls against HPV, a virus responsible for 95% of cervical cancer cases.
Akinpelu highlighted that cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer among women in Nigeria, with over 100,000 deaths recorded annually.
He described the HPV vaccine as the first line of defense in combating this deadly disease, urging parents to ensure their daughters, especially those aged 9 and above, receive the vaccine.
“This is a unique opportunity for Lagos and Nigeria as a whole to benefit from the HPV vaccine, which has proven effective in reducing cervical cancer incidence in countries where it is routinely administered,” Akinpelu explained.
Lagos, according to Akinpelu, has maintained good immunization coverage despite the city’s rapidly growing population.
However, challenges remain in reaching newcomers to the city and ensuring they are vaccinated.
“We conduct weekend vaccinations, weekday outreaches, and target hard-to-reach areas to make sure no child is left behind,” he explained.
The goal, he stressed, is to achieve 90% coverage and reduce the burden on the healthcare system.
“Vaccination is one of the most effective means of disease prevention,” Akinpelu stated.
“It reduces the financial and emotional burdens on parents, freeing up time for economic pursuits and reducing strain on healthcare resources.”
Speaking on the contributions of UNICEF, Dr. Akinpelu lauded the organization for filling gaps in the campaign and providing advocacy that has ensured strong political will and commitment to healthcare interventions in Lagos.
He said ” In partnership with our implementing partner, UNICEF, it has been a fruitful relationship in the sense that there has been a very good rapport between us.
“When we have gaps, they have been able to help fill them.
“Additionally, in terms of high-level advocacy, one of the things this partnership has brought us is political will and a sense of commitment from leaders when it comes to healthcare interventions, especially vaccination.
“Our partnership with UNICEF has been a positive one, and we hope to continue having a fruitful collaboration with them.”
… UNICEF: 2.3M Nigerian Children Risk Death Over Lack of Vaccination
Over 2.3 million children in Nigeria, mostly in hard-to-reach areas, are at risk of death due to a lack of immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases.
This alarming figure was disclosed by Celine Lafoucriere, Chief of the UNICEF Field Office in South West Nigeria.
Lafoucriere,, who spoke virtually said itwas sad that 2.3 million children still have not received no vaccine in Nigeria.
She stressed the urgency of the situation, noting that many of these children have not received any vaccines, leaving them vulnerable to deadly but preventable diseases.
However, she expressed optimism that these children could still be saved if they receive adequate vaccination.
To address the challenge, Lafoucriere said UNICEF is working with the governments and partners to achieve 15 per cent immunisation at the 100 prioritised local government areas across 18 states with the highest concentration of those zero dose children.
She disclosed that by 2025, more 30 per cent would be added to the reduction.
The UNICEF chief said:”I am coming to you this morning with sad news. We still have a very pressing challenge in Nigeria where 2.3 million children still have received no vaccine at all.
‘’You will remember that UNICEF referred to those children as zero dose children.
They are mostly in marginalised and hard-to-reach areas and vaccination remains very essential to their health and fundamental to every child and remains fundamental to improving the health outcome and reducing inequality.
‘’To address this in Nigeria, UNICEF together with the governments and valued partners like you, we have prioritised 100 local government areas across 18 states with the highest concentration of those zero dose children like Lagos as we are right now in Lagos in collaboration with you.
“We need to join hands to accelerate the rate of immunisation in Nigeria. What we want to do is very simple; we want to ensure that by each year, we increase the rate of vaccinating children by 50 per cent; we need to have reached 30 per cent more vaccinated children by 2025.
“ This cannot be done without you and we count on you to join hands with us today and make sure that we can leverage your influence.
“Your influence is very important. You can catalyse action and share successes with us.
“By working collectively, we can build a resilient health system that is capable of reaching each and every child, leaving no one behind no matter where they live to ensure that no child in Nigeria is suffering from preventable diseases’’.
… UNICEF Partners With Local Communities To Dispel Vaccine Misconceptions
In a bid to combat misconceptions surrounding vaccines, UNICEF has intensified its collaboration with local communities across Nigeria, aiming to build trust in immunization programmes and address socio-economic barriers that hinder access to healthcare.
Aderonke Akinwole, a Social and Behaviour Change Specialist at UNICEF, emphasized the importance of routine immunization and urged both the government and stakeholders to increase their commitment to overcoming the challenges facing vaccine coverage in the country.
Speaking on the pervasive misconceptions about vaccines in many Nigerian communities, Akinwole noted that a common belief is that children today do not need vaccines because previous generations survived without them.
She stressed that this mindset is dangerous, as every child’s health situation is different.
“Ignorance is never an excuse,” she stated. “The fact that someone may have gotten away without vaccines does not mean another child will.”
To tackle this, UNICEF has adopted a culturally sensitive, community-led approach to ensure that vaccine-related messages resonate with various communities.
By engaging local leaders and leveraging existing community structures, the organization works to dispel myths and build trust in vaccines.
Poverty, a Major Barrier to Immunization
Beyond misconceptions, UNICEF identified poverty as a critical factor obstructing effective immunization efforts in Nigeria.
Akinwole highlighted that while vaccines are available, many families are unable to access healthcare facilities due to socio-economic challenges, particularly poverty.
“Poverty remains one of the biggest challenges,” she explained. “If facilities are not close to caregivers, it may be difficult for them to take the extra time and resources to get to these facilities.”
The lack of access to nearby health centers often means that children miss out on timely vaccinations, leaving them vulnerable to preventable diseases.
Akinwole stressed the need for routine immunization to be a central focus of Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system and called for increased government action to ensure vaccines are both available and accessible to all communities.
Akinwole called on religious, community, and traditional leaders to play a significant role in promoting routine immunization.
She noted that spreading awareness about the importance of vaccines is not solely the government’s responsibility but a collective duty.
“Even if they don’t have children within the ages of 0 to 15 months, we have family members, church, and mosque members around us.
“ We all have a responsibility to propagate the message of the importance of routine immunization,” she added.
She further emphasized that ensuring the health of Nigeria’s children is vital for the country’s future, stating, “Our children are our future, and they must be healthy for that future.”
Akinwole explained that what works in one community may not necessarily apply to another,saying,a tailored, community-centric approach is essential.
“We employ strategies centered around community engagement that are community-led, community-centric, and community-relevant,” Akinola noted.
“By supporting these local efforts, UNICEF ensures that outreach programs reach even the most remote and hard-to-reach areas of the country.
Akinwole encouraged parents and caregivers to take advantage of these outreach opportunities when they arise.
“Whenever the outreaches get to your community, take advantage of it,” she urged.
Akinwole called for a renewed focus on routine immunization as a key component of Nigeria’s healthcare system to effectively address the systemic barriers to immunization.
She stressed that the government must prioritize healthcare infrastructure, ensuring that every ward in the country has access to a Primary Healthcare Center (PHC) where caregivers can easily bring their children for immunization.
“Routine immunization should be a major focus and a central pillar of a health care delivery system,” Akinola concluded, urging for increased government and stakeholder collaboration to overcome the socio-economic and cultural obstacles limiting vaccine coverage in Nigeria.”
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