Samila Shehu, a father of three and resident of Azare in Katagum LGA of Bauchi, on Tuesday reversed his decision not to allow his children to be immunised, following the death of an infant in his neighbourhood.

Mr Shehu, who admitted being a vaccine denier during an interview in Azare, said he was initially misinformed about vaccines.

According to him, the family’s repeated out-of-pocket health expenses could have been avoided if his children had been vaccinated.

“I have never vaccinated any of my three children because I was misinformed. I was told that vaccines could endanger their lives. The fact that my neighbour lost his child to diphtheria is the reason I decided to accept vaccination. We were told that the child died due to a lack of vaccination,” he said.

Mr Shehu explained that the persistent sickness and poor health of his three children also scared him into having a change of mind.

“We have spent so much on hospital bills because my children frequently fall sick,” he said.

He said that he was enlightened by Fathers for Good Health on the importance of ensuring that children take all childhood vaccines.

(NAN)