Parents preventing children from vaccinations are liable to imprisonment, Doctors warn

Medical experts, on Wednesday, warned parents and guardians against the dangers posed by not allowing their children and wards to be vaccinated.

While blaming social media influence for misinforming the public, the doctors cited child rights laws stipulating that parents, guardians and those who have custody of children under two years who prevent them from vaccinations are liable to imprisonment.

They gave this warning during the scientific conference 2024 of the Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Medical Association, Oyo State branch, held at the NMA House, Agodi in Ibadan, Oyo State capital with the theme: “Vaccines: The Facts and The Myths.”

Speaking on the theme, the Reader and Clinical Virologist, Department of Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Adeola Fowotade, lamented that misinformation and disinformation on vaccines were alarming.

She underscored the effectiveness of the vaccines in preventing diseases.

Fowotade said, “Nigeria is a country that is plagued with infectious diseases. Good enough, some of these diseases are preventable by vaccination and the vaccines that are available are not for children alone, but also adults. We have observed that people are showing apathy to the vaccines.

“Even adults do not want their children to get vaccinated and for adult vaccines, there is a low turnout of those taking the vaccines. The reason that is driving vaccines off-take is that there are a lot of myths associated with the vaccines. Those myths are true according to studies conducted by various organisations, including the World Health Organisation and others.’’

In his submission, the Dean Elect, Faculty of Public Health, University of Ibadan, Magbagbeola Dairo, who spoke on the subtheme: ‘’Combating Vaccine Hesitancy in Clinical and Public Health Settings’’ also warned that refusal to present children for vaccination attracted fines and imprisonment according to the Child Right Law in Oyo State and Child Right Act in Nigeria.

“Vaccines are effective and useful. They should take advantage of vaccines available in our facilities and that are being brought to schools. It is free and beneficial.

‘’The Child Right Law in Oyo State and Child Right Act in Nigeria have already stipulated that parents, guardians and those who have custody of children under two years have the responsibility to ensure full vaccination of those and those who fail to do so are liable to imprisonment or fine.

“So, we should not run afoul of the law. We must vaccinate our children. For those who are older, I am advocating that there should be a vaccination policy for access to government-provided benefits such as national immunisation, driver’s licence and entrance into higher institutions.  Vaccination cards should be provided.

‘’It is to help the physician to know the strategies to be adopted in convincing the people to take advantage of vaccination. To show the advantages of vaccination. We must educate the healthcare providers,”
he said.

Earlier, the NMA acting state Chairman, Happy Adedapo, warned against picking half-information on social media to cast aspersion on the use of the vaccines.