…harps on routine immunization
By Adeyinka Adeniran
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said till date no fewer than two million Nigerian children have zero-dose or outrightly unimmunized.
This is as the organization identified low immunisation coverage, poor sanitation, and malnutrition as key challenges that keep opening the doors for the resurgence of polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases, stressing that routine immunization remains the best bet.
The Chief, UNICEF Lagos Field Office, Ms. Celine Lafoucriere, made the disclosure, yesterday, at the 2025 World Immunisation Week and Advocacy Walk for Polio, organised by the Lagos State Government in collaboration with UNICEF.
The advocacy walk for polio mobilised high-level policymakers, community leaders, influencers, youth advocates, development partners, and hundreds of citizens to raise awareness and inspire urgent political and community commitment towards ending polio and boosting routine immunisation.
The walk took off from the Office of Lagos State First Lady, Alausa, Ikeja, and ended at the Ministry of Health, Lagos State Secretariat.
At the event, the dangers of misinformation regarding vaccines were a recurring theme with various speakers calling for action against vaccine hesitancy.
Lafoucriere who gave an historical background to the introduction of vaccine noted that since 1974, vaccines have saved over 150 million lives, which represents more than 3 million lives per year or 6 lives every minute in the last 5 decades.
She added that vaccines are extremely powerful, adding that with the support of global efforts, the world has seen a 99.9% reduction in polio cases since 1988.
She noted that before the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, no fewer 1,000 children were paralyzed every single day, but that, tday, the oral polio vaccine has helped prevent 24 million cases of paralysis.
Lafoucriere said: “It’s an honor to walk with all of you today. This World Immunization Week and our #Walk for Polio reminds us how far we’ve come but also how far remains to go to ensure Nigerian children are fully immunized.
“To date 2 million Nigerian children remain zero-dose or unimmunized. Since 1974, vaccines have saved over 150 million lives! That represents more than 3 million lives per year or 6 lives every minute in the last 5 decades.
“Vaccines are extremely powerful. Thanks to global efforts, the world has seen a 99.9% reduction in polio cases since 1988.
“Before the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, 1,000 children were paralyzed every single day. Today, the oral polio vaccine has helped prevent 24 million cases of paralysis.
“But friends, we are not done yet.
Right here in Lagos, we are detecting a resurgence of polio.”
She hinted on the challenges that are opening the doors for a resurgence of the health challnege, especially among the children.
“Low immunization coverage, poor sanitation, and malnutrition are keeping the door open for polio and other vaccine preventable diseases. Routine immunization is our best bet. 
“We already have the tools — the oral polio vaccine is safe, effective, and it works. But do we have the knowledge and the coverage? Despite the fact that vaccines are powerful proven life saviors, some parts of the population remain misinformed believing in harmful rumors.
“Despite the fact that vaccines are increasingly available, some parts of the population only have access to vaccines during campaigns. This is not sustainable.
“Routine immunization must become the norm for every child born in Lagos. This is the only way to ensure a calendar of vaccination can be established for every child, ensuring that vaccination is indeed powerful.
“For this to happen, we need action.
UNICEF continues to stand with Lagos state and the Nigerian people to deliver vaccines to the hardest-to-reach children through vaccination campaigns, support health workers with training and resources, and build trust in every community so that no child is left behind.
“But routine immunization represents the only hope for the future.
“As we walk today, we make a call for stronger routine immunization systems to be made possible through a renewed political commitment to ensure greater health education (or awareness) is available to the whole population so that no parent ever again in Nigeria will take the risk of leaving their child at risk of dying from preventable diseases.
“One unvaccinated child is a risk to all.
But together, united, we can end zero doze, end polio — for good. Let’s walk with pride. Let’s speak with one voice. And let’s protect every child, everywhere from vaccine preventable diseases.”
