Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed mixed reactions to childhood immunisation, even as experts continue to stress its importance in preventing diseases such as measles, polio, and tuberculosis.
The residents shared their views in separate interviews on Monday in Abuja, as part of activities to mark World Immunisation Week.
The 2026 theme for the week is “For every generation, vaccines work.”
Nigeria has one of the highest numbers of zero-dose children globally, according to UNICEF and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Zero-dose children are those who have never received any routine vaccine, with recent estimates putting the figure at over two million.
While large-scale vaccination campaigns are ongoing to reach missed children, challenges such as insecurity, weak health systems, and vaccine hesitancy continue to hinder access and contribute to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.
In the FCT, awareness campaigns and routine outreach programmes are being intensified to encourage caregivers to complete their children’s vaccination schedules.
Mrs Hafiza Audu, a mother of four from Karmajiji community in Abuja, said she has always been sceptical about immunisation.
“I find it difficult to allow my children to take any immunisation. Since birth, only one of my children has received the BCG vaccine, and that happened because I gave birth at night and he was immunised during routine hospital procedures the next morning. The rest have never been immunised.
“I believe that injections only expose them to more illnesses,” she said.
In contrast, Mrs Aisha Babangida, a journalist and mother of a six-month-old baby, said she takes immunisation seriously after learning about its benefits during antenatal care.
“I first heard about childhood immunisation during antenatal sessions, where the dangers of polio and measles were highlighted. Although I was worried about side effects like fever and restlessness, health workers assured me they are mild and temporary. My child falls sick less often now, and immunisation has given me peace of mind,” she said.
Hajara Ibrahim, a housewife, admitted she initially had reservations but changed her mind due to sustained sensitisation through community and traditional leaders.
“My husband was initially against it, but with consistent awareness campaigns, he now supports it. Our children are healthy, and we now see the importance of immunisation,” she said.
Mrs Esther Dennis, a school teacher, said immunisation has protected her daughter from preventable diseases and strengthened her confidence in vaccines.
“I have met people with strong negative beliefs about immunisation, but that has not changed my decision,” she said.
However, Manar Aliyu, a father of two, remains strongly opposed to immunisation.
“Immunisation is a Western mechanism to control population in Africa,” he claimed, adding that the government should focus more on treating other serious illnesses instead of investing heavily in vaccines.
