Lagos begins statewide Polio vaccination campaign to protect children

The Lagos State Government is set to begin a comprehensive statewide Polio Outbreak Response (OBR) campaign aimed at protecting children against paralysis caused by poliovirus.

The exercise, scheduled to commence on Saturday, November 8, 2025, is being organised by the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPHCB) in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and other development partners.

The campaign follows the recent detection of an orphan circulating Variant Poliovirus Type 2 (cVPV2) in the Makoko area of Lagos Mainland Local Government, a densely populated riverine community identified through the State’s routine environmental surveillance system.

Speaking on the development, the Permanent Secretary of LSPHCB, Dr. Ibrahim Akinwunmi Mustafa, said the discovery underscored the need for an urgent and coordinated response to strengthen population immunity and halt possible transmission of the virus.

He announced that the State will conduct two rounds of house-to-house vaccination across all 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas, targeting every child under the age of five, regardless of their previous vaccination status.

“Each eligible child will receive two drops of the novel Oral Polio Vaccine (nOPV2), which is safe, effective, and certified by both the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the World Health Organization (WHO),” Dr. Mustafa explained.

Reiterating the State Government’s commitment to safeguarding the health of children, Dr. Mustafa said: “Our goal is to ensure that every child under five in Lagos is fully protected against polio. The detection of this virus reminds us that polio remains a threat until total eradication is achieved. We therefore urge parents, caregivers, and community leaders to open their doors to health workers and cooperate with the vaccination teams.”

He added that the State has reinforced its surveillance, logistics, and communication systems to ensure the campaign’s success.

Ahead of the exercise, the government has also engaged key stakeholders, including Local Government Chairmen, traditional rulers, religious leaders, market associations, and health workers’ unions, to promote community awareness and ownership of the campaign.

Dr. Mustafa assured residents that the vaccine is completely free, safe, and meets all international standards. Health workers, he said, have been adequately trained on proper vaccine handling, cold chain management, and monitoring for any adverse reactions.

The Lagos State Government urged all parents and guardians to ensure their children under five receive the vaccine during the campaign, stressing that public participation is vital to keeping Lagos polio-free and protecting the health of future generations.