Cinetin (not his real name) walked to the Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Affippo, a community in Ebony province, and hugged her 1-year-old son, and the nurse looked up at the surprise. “Where is your wife?” asked one of them.
“She’s in the shop today,” he replied. “I let my boy come in for him.”
There was a pause. The nurse then nodded and was impressed. It was not common to meet your father at the clinic. In many Nigerian communities, childhood vaccinations are considered motherly responsibility. She tracks the date, carries the vaccination card, shows up and waits in line to make sure the child is taking it.
On the other hand, fathers often stay in the background and provide financial support, but rarely exist in the process. This gap is not necessarily due to negligence. It’s tradition. It’s culture. That’s a habit. But more and more, it is an opportunity that has been missed.
If the father is not involved, children are more likely to miss out on major vaccination milestones. When they are involved, the results improve.
A community listening to the awareness and dose of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines
We received roughly the same number of 1,036 responses from both men and women in a recent community perception survey conducted in Borno, Cross River, Ebony, Cano, Lagos and Niger. Interestingly, about 68% of male respondents said they had heard of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines. However, if we dig deeper into the details, only 19% of the men surveyed knew that they needed to administer their first dose in nine months, following Nigerian vaccination schedule. Around 61% of people correctly said that their children need two doses, but even so many men are unaware of the full schedule.
Meanwhile, 28% of women were timing correctly, and 56% knew two dose requirements that were slightly better, but still far from ideal.
Thus, while general awareness appears to be promising, certain knowledge gaps remain important, such as when and how many times the vaccine should be administered. These knowledge gaps are important as they reflect why Nigeria continues to struggle with the outbreak of vaccinated diseases.
The outcome is serious
Nigeria is one of the 10 countries with the highest number of zero-administered children, with over 4.3 million children, less than five, not fully vaccinated. As of 2023, despite initial 60% coverage, only 38% of children received a second dose of a vaccine containing measles. The gap contributed to repeated outbreaks, with over 72% of confirmed measles cases in children who had not received a single dose reported in 2024.
So we ask: what happens if a man is more involved? Can shared responsibility improve follow-up of second dosing and close the zero dosing gap? In Indonesia, a powerful example emerged when fathers adopted it when they learned about the importance of vaccination and then let their children complete the vaccination. This change in mindset not only protected his child, but also reinforced how important the involvement of a critical father is.
The father wants to help, they just don’t feel invited
Public health messages often target mothers, women, or female caregivers. Campaign images, audio notes, and radio jingles rarely talk directly to men. Vaccination initiatives and innovations are planned with mothers in mind.
So, where does the father fit?
Health is not a gender obligation. Raising a child is a shared journey, and vaccinations – one of the most powerful tools to protect them – is extremely important to leave alone with one parent.
As Nigeria plans to roll out its measles and rubella vaccine this year, here are some ways to begin shifting the narrative:
Target male intentionally: host a father-friendly health age at the clinic. A design message saying “Mother and father protect children with two MMRs.” Use images of father holding a baby. Put the male voice in the message. Feature men in radio jingles, TV ads, and community storytelling events. Listen to other men that it’s not okay to show up and deserves praise. Conversation of a host with a man: engaging men in frequent spaces – mechanic shops, viewing centres, places of worship. These gatherings are used to explain vaccines, schedules, and parent roles. Sign up for the AllAfrica newsletter for free
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One man’s ripple effect appears
When Chinedu returned to the clinic for his second MMR dose, this time with his wife, he noticed that the other two fathers were waiting outside. “I told my neighbor, one of them missed the first dose. I said, ‘Let’s go with you,'” Chinedu explained.
That’s the beginning of change. It’s time to retire from the idea that protecting the health of children is primarily a woman’s job. The father benefits when the whole family benefits in the clinic, in conversation, and in decisions.
So, as a big catch-up. Supplementary Immunological Activities (SIA) Campaign. There is also a planned outbreak response (OBR) campaign. Remember that fathers can also play an important role.
