Lagos launches emergency vaccination at King’s College amid diphtheria fears
The Lagos State Government will commence an emergency vaccination exercise for students of King’s College Annexe, Victoria Island, on Wednesday following a reported diphtheria outbreak at the school.
The state’s Ministry of Health is spearheading the vaccination campaign to curb the spread of the disease and safeguard the students. Health experts and senior government officials will be present to oversee the process and address media concerns regarding the outbreak and ongoing containment measures.
Parents and guardians have been urged to cooperate, as officials emphasize the critical role of vaccination in preventing further infections.
The decision to launch the vaccination drive follows high-level discussions between Lagos State health officials, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). The Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, confirmed the meeting and assured that updates would be provided to the public.
“We are working on it. A meeting will be held shortly, after which we will brief the governor and update the public,” Ogunyemi stated.
Concerns over a possible diphtheria outbreak first surfaced on Sunday when reports indicated that some students had been hospitalized. Parents expressed alarm, questioning why students were being asked to wear face masks and why some were taken to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
One parent revealed that WHO officials had visited the school on Saturday to educate students on prevention methods, raising concerns about the school’s handling of the situation. Another parent accused the school of failing to address sanitation issues, alleging that unhygienic conditions contributed to the spread of infections.
The school recently issued consent forms to parents, allowing students to receive the diphtheria vaccine in partnership with the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board. Some parents have confirmed that their children were previously diagnosed with diphtheria, with at least two students hospitalized in December.
