Public health and pediatric experts have advised the Nigerian Federal Government to adopt reward-based strategies to increase vaccination rates among children. They argue that offering incentives to parents who ensure their children complete the required immunization schedules could be more effective than punitive measures, which could lead to increased vaccine hesitancy.
The recommendation was shared by Professor Tanimola Akande, a public health expert at the University of Ilorin, and Dr. Ayodele Renner, a consultant pediatrician, during an exclusive interview with PUNCH Healthwise to mark World Immunization Week (April 24-30). The experts stressed that rewards—such as linking vaccinations to school enrollment or offering material support—would likely yield better results than penalizing parents, which may fuel resistance and slow down vaccination progress.
In Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Health provides a vaccination schedule that includes essential vaccines such as BCG, OPV, DPT, Hepatitis B, Measles, and Yellow Fever. Despite these efforts, many children miss vaccinations due to misinformation, cultural barriers, and difficulties in accessing vaccination centers.
Dr. Renner argued that measures like criminalizing non-vaccination, including arresting parents, were extreme and unrealistic. He warned that such approaches could worsen distrust in the healthcare system. Instead, he recommended that the government focus on providing incentives and improving access to vaccination services, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
Experts also highlighted misinformation and fear, particularly concerns over vaccine side effects and myths about infertility, as key contributors to vaccine hesitancy. Dr. Renner emphasized that side effects are rare and typically mild, urging open discussions to dispel these misconceptions.
Professor Akande further suggested that any vaccination policy should respect human rights while encouraging compliance. He proposed linking immunization to public services like school enrollment, offering additional incentives such as school supplies. He also recommended that community leaders, including religious and traditional figures, take a more active role in combating vaccine myths.
Both experts agreed on the need for collaboration between healthcare providers, government agencies, and community leaders to address vaccine hesitancy and promote the long-term health benefits of immunization. They cautioned that unvaccinated children pose not only a risk to themselves but also to the wider community, with preventable diseases like meningitis, pneumonia, and polio potentially causing significant health and economic burdens.
As Immunization Week continues to emphasize vaccination as a tool to protect against diseases, the experts called on the Nigerian government to intensify efforts to improve vaccine coverage and reduce the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases across the nation.
