Despite achieving a 99 percent vaccination coverage in Cross River State, the state government has reported that there are still areas where mothers are hesitant to vaccinate their children. To address this issue, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the state government, has launched a campaign aimed at educating mothers about the importance of ensuring their children receive all necessary vaccinations, particularly focusing on the concept of “zero dose.”
This campaign is currently active in 200 communities across 33 states in Nigeria and seeks to tackle hesitancy surrounding vaccine acceptance.
Dr. Olusoji Akinleye, a vaccine specialist at UNICEF, explained that “zero dose” refers to situations where children, as well as pregnant and nursing mothers, lack access to vaccines. He noted that it is especially critical for children to receive vaccines during their first weeks of life, as missing these can be particularly dangerous.
During a media dialogue on sick newborns and zero doses in Calabar, Akinleye stated, “This is the reason we want to embark on one big catch-up campaign to convince people to accept the vaccines, regardless of psychological, religious, and sociocultural barriers.” He highlighted that traditional and religious beliefs in certain regions often prevent people from accepting vaccines.
Dr. Viviene Mesembe Otu, the Director General of the Cross River Primary Healthcare Development Agency, added that logistical challenges have also impacted vaccine distribution. She mentioned, “In our case, logistics hampered the delivery of antigens and vaccines from Abuja, even though some vaccines are limited.”
This initiative aims to overcome both hesitancy and logistical barriers to ensure that all children receive essential vaccinations.
