Parents and guardians are being cautioned by medical experts about the risks associated with not vaccinating their children.
Doctors point out that social media influence often spreads misinformation, leading some to prevent their children under two years from receiving vaccinations, and this action can result in imprisonment as per child rights laws.
This warning was issued during the 2024 scientific conference at the Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Medical Association, Oyo State branch, with the theme “Vaccines: The Facts and The Myths” held at the NMA House, Agodi in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.
Addressing the audience, Adeola Fowotade, a Clinical Virologist at the Department of Microbiology, University of Ibadan, emphasized the importance and effectiveness of vaccines in preventing diseases while expressing concern over the alarming prevalence of vaccine misinformation and disinformation.
Fowotade also highlighted that vaccines are not limited to children but are equally essential for adults in combating infectious diseases, urging people to overcome myths surrounding vaccines and leverage the available resources for vaccination.
Magbagbeola Dairo, the Dean Elect of the Faculty of Public Health at the University of Ibadan, echoed the sentiment on combating vaccine hesitancy and emphasized that failing to vaccinate children could lead to fines or imprisonment in accordance with the Child Right Law in Oyo State and the Child Right Act in Nigeria.
He emphasized the effectiveness and benefits of vaccines, encouraging the utilization of free vaccination services provided by healthcare facilities and schools.
Dairo recommended implementing a vaccination policy for accessing government benefits in older individuals and stressed the importance of education for healthcare providers to effectively communicate the advantages of vaccination.
Furthermore, Happy Adedapo, the NMA acting state Chairman, cautioned against relying on incomplete information from social media to undermine the credibility of vaccines.