Abuja: Mr Samila Shehu, a father of three and resident of Azare in Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi State, on Tuesday reversed his decision not to allow his children to be immunised, following the death of an infant in his neighbourhood.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, Shehu, who admitted being a non-compliant parent during an interview in Azare, said he was initially misinformed about vaccines. He acknowledged that the family’s repeated out-of-pocket health expenses could have been avoided if his children had been vaccinated.

Shehu shared, “I have never vaccinated any of my three children because I was misinformed, I was told that vaccines could endanger their lives. The fact that my neighbour lost his child to diphtheria is the reason I decided to accept vaccination. We were told that the child died due to lack of vaccination.”

The father explained that the persistent sickness and poor health of his three children also scared him into having a change of mind. “We have spent so much on hospital bills because my children frequently fall sick,” he revealed.

He credited Fathers for Good Health (F4G) for enlightening him on the importance of ensuring that children take all childhood vaccines. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Fathers for Good Health (F4G) is a community-based organisation established by UNICEF for men, aimed at engaging husbands and mobilising residents for childhood vaccines and uptake of maternal and infant services.