RELUCTANCE TO VACCINATE CHILDREN IS HIGHEST IN ZAMFARA STATE: What Are the Options?

This Policy Brief draws from a NISER Study on Vaccine Hesitancy in Zamfara State.

Vaccine hesitancy is the reluctance or refusal to have oneself or one’s children vaccinated against infectious diseases despite the availability of vaccine services. Vaccination reduces the risks of getting vaccine-preventable diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, influenza, whooping cough, measles, and polio. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified vaccine hesitancy as one of the most significant threats to global health (WHO, 2024). This is because it is believed to be responsible for decreasing vaccine coverage, which reduces the chances of achieving child-related national and global health goals in the country.
This policy brief focuses the level and causes of vaccine hesitancy in Zamfara State, Nigeria.