By Sola Ogundipe
Key stakeholders in the Lagos State health sector have consented to a strengthened commitment and partnership on routine immunisation towards combating vaccine-preventable diseases among children in the State.
The participants who included representatives of the Lagos State government, professional health associations, the academia, the media, and development partners among others resolved to collaborate to fight against zero-dose and under-immunised children.
At the event put together by Save the Children International under the GSK-supported Better Opportunities for Optimised Targeted Intervention (BOOST) project for Zero-Dose and Unimmunised Children in Nigeria, among barriers identified were inadequate funding, shortage of skilled manpower in hard-to-reach areas, and the attitude from caregivers and health workers.
The Policy and Advocacy Coordinator for the BOOST Project, Dr Itunu Dave-Agboola, said that despite remarkable progress on immunization, challenges still prevail particularly as a result of health worker and caregiver attitude.
“The BOOST activities include sensitization, creation of awareness about the benefits of routine immunization and why prevention is better than cure, especially in the face of prevalence, childhood killer diseases that are prevalent in the environment.
“When the caregiver misses appointments or comes late, it could be an issue, and then that’s why health workers in not showing empathy or not being kind to the caregiver or long waiting times could be things that would put off parents and caregivers from bringing their children for immunisation.
“We expect all hands will be on deck from both the public and private sector in ensuring optimal routine immunization through improving service delivery, improving the attitude of caregivers and health workers,” Dave-Agboola said.
Highest number of zero dose children
On his part, the State Immunisation Programme Coordinator, Dr. Adetola Akinpelu, lamented what he called the dwindling fortunes of routine immunisation in Lagos, attributing the decline to exponential population growth and limited resources.
Akinpelu, who represented the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPHCB), decried the development, noting, “When you compare Lagos to other states, it appears we’re doing very well, but when you dig deeper, you realise that the state also has the highest absolute number of zero-dose children. For every child vaccinated here, it’s like vaccinating five children in another state.”
Painting a grim picture of the struggles faced by frontline health workers from riverine communities involving the hiring of boats up to ₦200,000, he said overstretched vaccinators attend to 60–70 children a day, far above the recommended 15.
“Excellence brings its own problem. People migrate to Lagos in search of better opportunities, and the population keeps growing. The system is simply overstretched. Some of these communities are inaccessible for weeks. To reach them, you need not just resources, but commitment. That’s what BOOST is trying to address, finding sustainable solutions that go beyond quick fixes.”
Over 63,000 children unvaccinated Jan -Sept 2025
In a related development there were concerns about the falling routine immunisation coverage across several Local Government Areas in Lagos State as revelations show that over 63,000 children were unvaccinated in the state between January and September 2025.
The State Immunisation Officer, Lagos, Mrs. Kemi Oshodi, decried uneven progress of routine immunisation across the LGAs, saying some councils failed to meet even minimum coverage targets. In a review of the 2025 Quarter 3 Routine Immunisation report for Lagos State, Oshodi reassured that there was, however, hope on the horizon.
“We have seen some improvements, but overall, our coverage remains below expectation. For a megacity like Lagos, 78 percent Penta 1 coverage is not where we should be; the expected threshold is 90 percent, while measles 2 coverage dropped as low as 21 percent in some local government areas.
“Surulere has consistently underperformed despite full data entry. We’ve had several engagement meetings with them and hope to see progress by the last quarter. Alimosho alone accounts for more than 14,000 unimmunized children, and by year’s end, we may be looking at up to 20,000 unvaccinated children,” Oshodi warned.
On a brighter note, Lagos recorded strong performance in the HPV vaccination campaign, particularly in the school-based programmes targeting girls aged nine years as consent is easier to get in schools, while it is still a challenge in communities.
“We have engaged the underperforming LGAs and shared approaches for reaching children in high-density areas, so we expect to see significant improvement towards the end of the year,” she stated.
Lagos bridging the gaps
Also speaking, the Director of Nursing Services, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Mrs. Olusola Aketi, assured that the State was more committed than ever to strengthening immunisation systems and community health engagement.
Aketi said that Lagos is making conscious efforts to bridge the immunization gaps by strengthening monitoring systems, improving community engagement, and ensuring that every child has access to life-saving vaccines.
“We need to show the international community that we are serious about our health systems. When the partners lift their hands, our transparency and commitment should be apparent. Lagos State has now prioritized initiatives that strengthen the immunization value chain-from vaccine logistics to public trust.
“Post-COVID, many believed that we could not sustain essential health services but we proved otherwise. Lagos State health workers have demonstrated capacity, professionalism, and courage. The moment trust is eroded, it takes years to rebuild. That’s why communication and attitude among health workers are crucial.
“Our nurses, midwives, and vaccinators must see themselves as ambassadors of care. Our CSOs play a great role; they are the bridge between the health system and the community. They help us identify dark spots and reach the unreached.
“Lagos State is ready; it is leading by example in achieving Nigeria’s immunisation goals. We have done a lot, but there’s still more to do.,” Aketi maintained, calling for stronger collaboration with the media and implementing partners to promote accurate information and sustain public confidence.
In her remarks, the Provost of the College of Nursing, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr. Olubukola Adebimpe Olawuyi, urged renewed advocacy and better partnerships in overcoming the lingering vaccine hesitancy among parents, notably mothers within markets, schools, and religious settings.
She emphasized that effective community sensitization had to be taken away from the clinics and hospitals into people’s immediate environments.
“It’s almost 2026, and let me assure you that we are ever ready to partner with you anytime. We need to plan early, collaborate, and ensure that all – from health workers to community members – are prepared to play their role.
“Sometimes, people refuse to present their children for immunisation not because they don’t believe in it, but because of how they perceive the people delivering the service.
“If we can teach children from an early age what immunisation means and why it’s important, they will grow up understanding that it’s part of their wellbeing. Advocacy must start from the classroom,” Olawuyi noted.
The activity was largely to call stakeholders together from both the public and private sector to identify the enablers and barriers to routine immunization.
Recommendations comprised practical steps in overcoming these barriers through improved service delivery, training for the health workers, enhanced care giver education, and feedback meetings to provide an opportunity for review of progress or sharing of best practices.
Also present were representatives from the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN), Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Pediatric Association of Nigeria, Pharmacist Council of Nigeria, were among other associations.
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