Yemisi Dada
In its vigorous drive to protect children and adolescents from vaccine preventable diseases, the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, LSPHCB, has commenced a six-day “Big Catch-up Vaccination round three Campaign” in five Council Areas from today April 10 to April 15, 2025.
The exercise, which is taking place simultaneously in Lagos Island, Kosofe, Mushin, Lagos Mainland and Amuwo Odofin Council areas, aims to bridge immunization gaps of children from zero to fifty nine months and intensify uptake of routine vaccines, including the Human Papillomavirus, HPV vaccine, for Girls of age nine.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ sensitization meeting in Ikeja, LSPHCB Director of Health Education and Health Promotion, Mrs Adesola Honfor, said the selected local governments were data-driven from the National records, due to high numbers of under-immunized children, with a call on parents to take advantage of the exercise.
“The vaccine is still available at all our Primary Health Centres. Parents should know they don’t need to wait for outreach teams they can walk in anytime.”
”Our surveillance data showed that these five LGAs have a significant number of children who have either missed out on vaccines entirely or have not completed their schedules. This campaign is about catching up—bringing those children into the net,” she said.
Corroborating the importance of HPV vaccination, President of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, Lagos State Branch, Dr. Funmi Ige, stressed that the vaccine is a vital tool in preventing cervical cancer which is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in the country.
Dr. Ige who noted that despite the rollout, under-immunization remains a challenge, particularly with multi-dose vaccines, appealed to community and religious leaders to champion the course of the campaign by educating their subjects on the importance of the vaccination.
“HPV has been identified as the major causative factor of cervical cancer. The vaccine is most effective when administered to girls between the ages of 9 and 14, ideally before sexual activity begins,” Dr. Ige explained.
“This engagement is to let the public know that the vaccine has now been routinized—you can walk into any PHC and get your daughter vaccinated. It’s safe, effective, and freely available.”
Dr. Ige also noted that despite the rollout, under-immunization remains an issue in some communities, particularly with multi-dose vaccines.
“We urged parents to make sure their children are not just vaccinated, but fully vaccinated every required dose, on schedule. That’s how we build community immunity.”
“Some children may have received the first dose but missed the second or third. This campaign is an opportunity to ensure they complete their schedules.”
“The government is doing a lot,” Dr. Ige emphasized.
Stakeholders at the forum pledged to support the campaign and be at the forefront to close immunization gaps and ensure that no child in Lagos is left behind.
The Stakeholders’ forum hinted that Oral Polio Vaccine, OPV campaign is also set to begin statewide on May 3, 2025.