Many Nigerians still fear vaccines due to myths and lack of knowledge. Learn the real reasons why and discover 5 trusted, simple ways to educate your community using facts and local language.
 |
| health worker teaches mothers about vaccines in a Nigerian community. |
Why Many Nigerians Avoid Vaccines
Vaccines are one of the best ways to protect people from deadly diseases like measles, polio, hepatitis, and tetanus. Yet, in many Nigerian communities, some people still fear or reject vaccines. This problem is more common in rural areas, but it also happens in towns and cities.
This article explains why some Nigerians avoid vaccines, the danger it causes, and how you can help your community understand the importance of vaccination.
1. Fear and Misinformation
Many people hear false stories about vaccines. Some believe that vaccines can cause infertility, make children sick, or are meant to harm Africans. These stories usually spread through word of mouth, social media, or community gossip.
People may say things like:
- “That injection will paralyze your child.”
- “They want to reduce our population.”
- “You don’t need a vaccine. Just use herbs.”
These are not true. But when there is no proper education, people tend to believe what they hear, especially from someone they trust.
What you can do:
- Share correct information from trusted health sources
- Use local language or simple English when explaining
- Correct myths kindly, without shouting or arguing
- Use posters, pictures, or short videos to explain
2. Lack of Access to Vaccination Centres
In some villages, health centres are very far. A mother may need to walk long distances or pay for transport just to vaccinate her baby. If she has many children or little money, she may decide not to go.
Also, some health centres don’t always have vaccines available, or the staff may be rude or slow. These challenges discourage people from coming back.
What you can do:
- Ask health workers to organize outreach or mobile vaccination days
- Encourage local leaders to support health campaigns
- Help families plan ahead for clinic days
- Advocate for better service and more trained staff in health centres
3. Religious or Cultural Beliefs
Some people avoid vaccines because their religion or cultural group discourages it. They may believe that praying or using traditional medicine is enough to prevent illness.
In the past, some communities rejected polio vaccines because of rumors that it was against their faith.
What you can do:
- Involve religious and traditional leaders in health talks
- Respect people’s beliefs but explain health facts clearly
- Show how faith and medicine can work together
- Use testimonies of people whose children are healthy because of vaccines
4. Poor Understanding of How Vaccines Work
Many people do not understand what vaccines really do. Some think that if a child still falls sick after being vaccinated, then the vaccine did not work.
Others don’t know that some vaccines need more than one dose (like measles or hepatitis B). So if they stop after the first shot, the protection is not complete.
What you can do:
- Explain that vaccines prepare the body to fight diseases
- Tell parents when and how many times each vaccine should be taken
- Remind them that even if a child falls sick after a vaccine, it is often milder
- Encourage keeping the child’s health card safe and up to date
5. Bad Past Experience
Sometimes, parents had a bad experience in the past. Maybe a health worker gave an injection too harshly, or the child had a mild reaction like fever after a vaccine. Because of that, the parent becomes afraid and avoids all other vaccines.
What you can do:
- Explain that mild reactions are normal and not dangerous
- Remind them that diseases like polio or measles are far worse
- Share stories of other parents who continued and are happy they did
- Encourage health workers to be gentle and patient
Why Vaccination Matters
When more people in a community are vaccinated, it protects even those who cannot take vaccines due to illness or age. This is called herd immunity. It stops the disease from spreading.
But if too many people avoid vaccines, diseases will come back and spread faster.
In Nigeria, there have been outbreaks of measles and diphtheria recently. These diseases can kill children quickly if not prevented. The safest way to protect your family is through vaccination.
How to Educate Your Community
- Organize community health talks at schools, churches, mosques, or village squares
- Share simple leaflets, videos, or radio messages in local languages
- Encourage mothers to remind other mothers
- Work with youth groups to spread awareness
- Respect people’s questions and explain slowly and clearly
How to Educate Your Community
Helping your community understand the importance of vaccines takes more than just facts it takes patience, respect, and using the right language and approach. Below are clear, simple ways to educate people in your area about vaccines and help them trust the process.
1. Organize Community Health Talks
You don’t need a big event to pass a big message. You can arrange small health talks at places where people already gather and feel comfortable, such as:
- Schools during PTA meetings or morning assemblies
- Mosquesand Churches, right after service
- Village square meetings or local council gatherings
- Markets, especially on busy trading days
During these talks, use simple language and examples people understand. Allow time for questions and give honest, respectful answers. If possible, invite a local health worker to explain things clearly.
2. Share Simple, Easy-to-Understand Materials
When you speak, avoid big medical grammar. Share health messages using tools that people in your community can easily understand, like:
- Leaflets with clear pictures and short messages in Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Pidgin, or the local language
- Short videos with subtitles or voice-over in local languages
- Radio messages that play on local stations, especially early morning or evening
You can also post these materials on WhatsApp groups, Facebook pages, or even print posters for schools, shops, or churches.
3. Encourage Mothers to Talk to Other Mothers
In many families, mothers are the ones who make health decisions for children. They also trust other mothers. You can:
- Ask vaccinated mothers to share their story with other women in their area
- Form small women’s discussion groups to talk about child health
- Work with women leaders, market sellers, or local midwives to spread the message
When one mother says, “I vaccinated my child and nothing bad happened,” others will listen.
4. Work with Youth Groups and Volunteers
Young people are active, bold, and good at spreading messages quickly. Get them involved by:
- Training them to speak in simple terms about vaccines
- Letting them create short drama skits, music, or fun events to teach people
- Encouraging them to share vaccine messages on social media like TikTok, Facebook, or Instagram
Also involve NYSC corps members, students, and religious youth groups they can be powerful voices in their communities.
5. Listen to People’s Fears and Answer with Respect
Many Nigerians have real fears and questions about vaccines. Some heard scary stories from friends or online. When someone says, “I don’t trust vaccines,” don’t shout at them or argue.
Instead:
- Ask them calmly, “Why do you feel that way?”
- Listen first, then reply with patience
- Use stories and facts, not threats or insults
- Show real-life examples of healthy vaccinated children or family members
When people feel respected, they are more open to learning. Kindness builds trust faster than arguments
Vaccines save lives. But fear, distance, and misunderstanding make many Nigerians avoid them. You don’t need to be a doctor to help. With the right words and care, you can teach your neighbor, your family, and your village why vaccines matter.
Good health starts with correct information. Let us protect our children, our community, and our future by encouraging vaccination for all.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the main reason some Nigerians avoid vaccines?
The main reasons are fear from false stories, lack of access to health centers, some religious beliefs, and a poor understanding of how vaccines work.
What is "herd immunity"?
Herd immunity is when a large number of people in a community are vaccinated. This helps to protect even those who cannot take vaccines, because the disease cannot spread easily.
Can vaccines cause infertility or other serious sicknesses?
No, this is a false rumor. Vaccines are safe and do not cause infertility or other serious sicknesses.
What should I do if my child gets a fever after a vaccine?
A mild fever is a normal reaction and it is not dangerous. You can give your child a simple pain medicine that the health worker recommends.
How can I get correct information about vaccines?
You can get correct information from trusted health workers, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and other reliable health organizations.
What is the NCDC?
The NCDC is the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. It is a government body that protects Nigerians from infectious diseases.
Why is it important to vaccinate a child more than once?
Some vaccines need more than one dose to give a child full protection from a disease. It is important to complete all the doses to make sure your child is fully protected.
Source: Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) – Routine Immunization (ncdc.gov.ng)