In Adré, community dialogue is rebuilding confidence in vaccination

In Adré, in Ouaddaï Province, eastern Chad, near the border with Sudan, rumours, misinformation and fears about side effects continue to discourage childhood vaccination. Despite the proven effectiveness of vaccines in preventing diseases such as measles, many families still hesitate to follow the recommended immunization schedule. 

Halimé Koni Chidi was one of those parents who had doubts about vaccination. Aged 47 and a mother of four, she lives in Adré with her husband, in a household mainly engaged in farming and small-scale trade. Like many other mothers in her community, she was long influenced by rumours circulating about vaccines. These concerns sometimes led her to miss her children’s routine vaccination appointments, without fully realizing the risks they faced. 

“Before, I thought vaccines could harm my children.” 

One day, she took part in a discussion session organized at the Adré Women’s House, a centre established by the United Nations System in Chad in collaboration with the Government of Chad. The centre is dedicated to the empowerment and protection of Sudanese refugee women, returnees and women from the host community. 

Led by health workers, community health volunteers and local leaders, the session gave participants an opportunity to ask questions and voice their concerns. Using picture cards and simple messages, the teams explained the importance of following the vaccination schedule, as well as the benefits of vaccination for children and women of reproductive age. 

For Halimé, these discussions marked a turning point. Convinced by the explanations she received, she decided to have all four of her children vaccinated regularly. 

“Today, I know that vaccines protect against serious diseases. I now understand the benefits of vaccination.” 

A few months later, several areas of the Adré health district experienced a rise in measles cases. Several insufficiently vaccinated children fell ill. Halimé’s children, who were properly vaccinated, remained healthy. Only her youngest child had not completed the vaccination schedule on time, due to an oversight that she now acknowledges. 

Seeing that her vaccinated children remained protected during the measles outbreak brought Halimé both relief and a profound realization: 

“Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to protect children’s lives, health and future.” 

Since then, she has not missed a single vaccination session. She carefully keeps her children’s vaccination cards and regularly reminds other mothers in her women’s group and neighbourhood of the dates when vaccination teams will be visiting. 

“I encourage all mothers to have their children vaccinated from birth and to make sure they receive all the recommended doses.” 

With funding from the Regional Humanitarian Fund for West and Central Africa, UNICEF supports social and behaviour change activities to strengthen communities’ acceptance of vaccination services. Implemented in collaboration with health services, community health workers, volunteers and local leaders, these interventions foster dialogue with families, address their concerns and help reduce vaccine hesitancy, with the aim of reaching every child and ensuring that no child is left unprotected against vaccine-preventable diseases.