“Prevention is better than cure”
How UNICEF is building community support for vaccines to protect the most vulnerable
“Remember: Prevention is better than cure” said the Imam Asan Doolotov.
It was late 2023, and that little chat lightened a spark of realization in Ulan Osmonov, a 39year-old devoted husband to Adilet Baetova and father to Ayana (4), Muhamedaly (14), and Gulira (16). Adilet Baetova and Ulan Osmonov, married for 14 years with three children, live in Kyzyl Bel village, Batken province, southern Kyrgyzstan. Until recently, none of their children were vaccinated.
Adilet Baetova and Ulan Osmonov, married for 14 years with three children, live in Kyzyl Bel village, Batken province, southern Kyrgyzstan. Until recently, none of their children were vaccinated.
"I didn't know enough about vaccines, so I didn't trust them at all," says Adilet.
Her husband, primarily due to religious beliefs, shared her hesitance. This situation reflects the rising trend of vaccine refusal in Kyrgyzstan, encompassing a range of diseases from COVID-19 to childhood illnesses like measles. The National Center for Immunoprphylaxis reports over 17,000 refusals in 2023, mainly driven by religious concerns and doubts about vaccine quality.
To address this issue in Batken, UNICEF partnered with two NGOs to launch an information campaign funded by the Canadian Government. The campaign aimed to bolster public confidence in vaccines and increase uptake among both children and adults.
The strategy was straightforward but based on evidence considering multiple factors of vaccine hesitancy: train kindergarten staff, religious leaders, and local health committee members on immunisation basics, empowering them to share accurate information within their communities.
Among the hundreds trained was Aizat Tagaeva, a nurse at the Kyzyl-Bel community kindergarten. This kindergarten is attended by more than 300 children from the village, including the four-year-old daughter of Ayana, Adilet, and Ulan. Following the training, the nurse organized a parent meeting to discuss vaccine protection, address common misconceptions, and highlight the mandatory nature of childhood vaccination in Kyrgyzstan.
Following the training, the nurse organized a parent meeting to discuss vaccine protection, address common misconceptions, and highlight the mandatory nature of childhood vaccination in Kyrgyzstan.
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It was the first time that a member of the Osmonov’s family had the opportunity to discuss hesitancy and have better information on vaccines. For Adilet there were no doubt: "It was an eye-opener," - she says - "I learned so much about vaccines and why immunisation is crucial for children."
However, Ulan remained unconvinced, his hesitancy intertwined with his faith.
It was a conversation with Imam Doolotov, who had woven insights from the UNICEF campaign into his Friday prayers, that marked a turning point for Ulan. "Islam does not forbid vaccines. They protect against diseases that can cause significant harm," Doolotov explained, addressing the congregation. This dialogue was instrumental in alleviating Ulan's concerns, leading him and Adilet to vaccinate their daughter Ayana and themselves.
Imam Asan Doolotov incorporating his newly found knowledge on immunization into Friday prayers, attended by dozens of villagers, primarily men.
The initiative, significantly backed by the Canadian Government, has made considerable strides in changing perceptions on vaccination in Kyrgyzstan, reaching over 50,000 people in the Batken province. Ulan's journey from skepticism to acceptance exemplifies the profound impact of combining accurate information with respected cultural and religious guidance, paving the way for healthier communities.
