UNICEF Urges Action Over Rising Polio Cases In Lagos Amid Low Immunisation Rates

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised serious concerns regarding the return of polio in Lagos State, urging immediate and sustained action to protect children through routine immunisation.

Polio Resurgence Poses Threat to Children’s Health in Lagos

During the 2025 edition of World Immunisation Week and Walk for Polio campaign held in Lagos, Celine Lafoucriere, the Head of UNICEF’s Lagos Field Office, highlighted a disturbing resurgence of polio in Nigeria’s commercial capital.

“We’re witnessing a return of polio in Lagos due to low routine immunisation rates, poor sanitation, and ongoing malnutrition,” Lafoucriere said. “The oral polio vaccine is effective and safe, but without widespread coverage and consistent education, we remain vulnerable.”

Despite the widespread availability of vaccines, she noted that many children only receive immunisations during special campaigns—a method she described as unsustainable for long-term protection.

UNICEF Calls for Stronger Routine Immunisation Systems

Lafoucriere stressed the need for immunisation to be institutionalised as a regular part of every child’s early healthcare. Establishing routine immunisation calendars across the state would provide lifelong protection against preventable diseases like polio.

“Routine immunisation must be the standard for every newborn in Lagos. Sustainable protection can only be achieved through comprehensive and continuous access,” she explained.

UNICEF, according to Lafoucriere, remains dedicated to supporting the Lagos State government by supplying vaccines to underserved communities, training healthcare professionals, and fostering trust at the grassroots level.

The Impact of Vaccination: A Global Perspective

In her speech, Lafoucriere highlighted the critical role of global vaccination efforts. Since the launch of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), polio cases have declined by over 99.9% worldwide. Before the initiative began in 1988, approximately 1,000 children were paralysed every day. Today, thanks to the oral polio vaccine, over 24 million cases of paralysis have been prevented.

She also noted that vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives since 1974—an average of six lives every minute.

Two Million Nigerian Children Still Unvaccinated

UNICEF data reveals that around two million Nigerian children remain zero-dose, meaning they haven’t received a single vaccine. Lafoucriere emphasized that each unvaccinated child is a potential threat to the wider community.

“One unvaccinated child is a risk to all,” she stated. “Together, through political will and public education, we can ensure no child in Nigeria is left behind. It’s time to end zero-dose status and eliminate polio permanently.”