The Lagos State Government has successfully vaccinated over 24 million residents against yellow fever, measles, and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in 2024, a significant public health milestone.
The Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board (LSPHCB) shared the update during a press briefing held at the Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday. Dr. Abimbola Bowale, Permanent Secretary of Health District 4 and Supervising PS to the LSPHCB, outlined that the state launched its 2024 Measles and Yellow Fever Integrated Vaccination Campaign on October 19, 2024.
“This Integrated Supplemental Immunisation Activities campaign is a landmark intervention aimed at addressing gaps in immunisation coverage and combating the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases in Lagos State,” Bowale explained.
The campaign reached impressive figures: 3,595,461 children were vaccinated against measles, achieving 85% coverage, 20,366,405 residents received the yellow fever vaccine, hitting a 95% coverage rate, and 163,553 individuals were vaccinated against HPV.
Bowale attributed the success of the campaign to large-scale social mobilization efforts, which reached over 21 million people, and improvements in health systems, including enhanced cold chain capacity and workforce training.
She commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, for their commitment to improving healthcare in Lagos, as well as the leadership of Prof. Akin Abayomi, the state’s Commissioner for Health, and Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser on Health to the Governor.
This vaccination campaign marks a major step towards safeguarding public health in Lagos, with hopes to continue reducing the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases across the state.