Institute of Development Studies Working Paper 261

This paper examines the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) controversy in Nigeria, where rumors that the vaccine was part of a Western tool to sterilise Muslims prompted a boycott of the vaccine by Muslim leaders.

The paper examines the roles, responsibilities and actions of global and national actors in implementing effective immunisation campaigns, including the manner in which health care issues are prioritised, managed, and financed. The author identifies sustained communication as the centre piece of a successful immunisation campaign, something which is often neglected in immunisation budgets.

According to the author, the OPV story in Nigeria offers valuable lessons to inform practice in dealing effectively with the political and cultural dynamics of immunisation campaigns. Some of these lessons learned include the important role of religious and traditional leaders as advocates within their communities, the importance of building partnerships with civil society groups and opinion leaders and the importance of continuous social mobilisation, knowledge and awareness creation.

The article concludes that the future of polio eradication in Nigeria requires an investment in community-centred relationships and programmes by both the Nigerian government and international partners, and that “while the polio vaccine boycott has proved costly in both economic and human terms, it has opened up important lines of communication at both global and
national levels, deepening dialogue, participation and sensitivity.”