Sokoto State Battles Polio Vaccine Hesitancy Challenges

Sokoto State is grappling with polio vaccine hesitancy, as illustrated by the case of a girl named Karima, whose father, Muhammad Nasiru, did not vaccinate her. Karima tested positive for the circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (CVDPV2), a strain that has emerged despite Nigeria being declared polio-free in 2020.

The Sokoto State Immunization Office, represented by Bashar Garba, noted that vaccine hesitancy is particularly prevalent in metropolitan areas, including Sokoto North, Sokoto South, and Wamakko, which have recorded high levels of non-compliance with vaccination campaigns. In 2022, Sokoto reported at least 20 cases of CVDPV2, with six cases from Kajiji ward in Shagari Local Government Area.

Efforts to combat this issue include community mobilization by UNICEF and local leaders to identify unvaccinated children and increase immunization outreach. Despite these initiatives, challenges such as manpower shortages and community resistance persist, complicating the fight against polio in the region.