The Digest:
The Lagos State Government has ordered a postmortem on nine-month-old identical twins, Testimony and Timothy Alozie, who died approximately 24 hours after receiving routine immunisation at a primary healthcare centre. Their father, Samuel Alozie, shared a viral video stating the children became weak and unresponsive after the injections on December 24, 2025, and died the following morning. The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Ibrahim Mustafa, confirmed an investigation is ongoing, emphasising that the vaccine in question has been administered to many other children without incident.
Key Points:
- This tragedy has sparked fear and anguish among parents, potentially undermining trust in routine immunisation programs critical to public health.
- The incident may lead to financial compensation discussions and could impact the operational protocols and staffing at government health facilities.
- Immediate scrutiny falls on the healthcare providers involved, while the grieving family seeks accountability and justice.
- The case tests the transparency and responsiveness of the state's health oversight mechanisms in addressing public concerns.
- The timing, amid ongoing efforts to bolster childhood vaccination coverage, makes this a sensitive public health and communications challenge for authorities.
The findings of the postmortem and official investigation will be crucial in determining the cause and restoring public confidence in the immunisation system.
Sources: Punch Newspapers
