• Community health pharmacies are the frequently accessed and most utilized points of care at the community level owing to their interconnectedness and pocket-friendly costs especially for the underserved population. In Nigeria, community pharmacies have played a critical role in offering wholistic care and administration of the antiretroviral medicines for HIV and other immunization programs. These points of care have shown to improve retention, adherence to medication and overall better treatment outcomes for HIV/AIDS patients and others. The community pharmacists contributed greatly during the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic through ensuring the availability and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPEs) and hand sanitizers. In addition, they educated the masses on safety precautions and increased awareness at the household level to curtail the spread of the virus during the heat of the pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a target of 70% for all the vaccine eligible individuals in the countries to be fully vaccinated by the end of June 2022. This will also ensure the countries/populations achieve herd immunity. Despite many hurdles such as vaccine hesitancy, vaccine miscommunication and disinformation, logistical challenges among others, the country is striving towards the WHO target for her population. And as such, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) of the ministry of health has recognized the important roles played by the community pharmacies and it has entered a partnership with them to increase the vaccines coverage in the country. The partnership is aimed to mobilize over 6000 community pharmacists in the country to provide COVID-19 immunization while at the same time strengthening the health infrastructure. Health systems strengthening plays an important role in effective rollout of sustained immunization programs. The executive director of NPHCDA alluded to the fact that community pharmacies are a cost-effective method in rolling out the vaccines. They have a clear and simplistic operating method; they are easily accessible and have long operating hours which increase service availability for majority of the population. The director also affirmed that collaboration would add zest to the ongoing efforts, and she confirmed her commitment and that of the ministry of health. She concluded that the synergy would increase COVID-19 vaccination while at the same time strengthening health systems and contributing to health security. The chairperson of the association of the community pharmacists in the country confirmed that the modality will increase the vaccine coverage as it will slow down hesitancy, increase vaccines awareness and roll-out the services to the people owing to their long operating hours and ease of access.

• The ministry of health has adopted the WHO target of 70% vaccination coverage of all the vaccine eligible population by the end of June. In order to realize the target, the ministry of health is working with different stakeholders to create demand for the vaccines. The association of community pharmacists chairperson has pledged to mobilize over 6000 pharmacists in the country and to strengthen the healthcare infrastructure. In addition, the pharmacists are distributed all over the country and will have longer working hours to increase service delivery and push up vaccines uptake.

• Strengthening health systems and infrastructure is a sustainable way of ensuring that immunization programs are anchored within the core mandate in the service delivery. Working with key stakeholders within the vaccines sector has the benefit of reducing hesitancy, reducing the spread of conspiracies and infodemic, and increasing access to services at the critical points of care to where they are most needed. However, there is need for a buy-in by all stakeholders to ensure they all work towards a common goal

A wholistic approach of strengthening systems and infrastructure, working with a wide range of stakeholders within the vaccines sector and reorganizing services to meet the needs of the people is an important aspect in increasing the vaccines coverage.