title: The Journalists Initiatives on Immunisation Against Polio and Improved Acceptance of the Polio Vaccine in Northern Nigeria 2007-2015.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The polio eradication initiative had major setbacks in 2003 and 2007 due to media campaigns in which renowned scholars and Islamic clerics criticized polio vaccines. The World Health Organization (WHO) partnered with journalists in 2007 to form the Journalists Initiatives on Immunisation Against Polio (JAP), to develop communication initiatives aimed at highlighting polio eradication activities and the importance of immunization in northern Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the impact of JAP activities in Kaduna State by determining the total number of media materials produced and the number of newspaper clips and bulletins published in support of polio eradication. We also determined the number of households in noncompliant communities that became compliant with vaccination during 2015 supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) after JAP interventions and compared caregivers' sources of information about SIAs in 2007 before and after the JAP was formed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Since creation of the JAP, >500 reports have been published and aired, with most portraying polio vaccine positively. During June 2015 SIAs in high-risk wards of Kaduna STATE, JAP interventions resulted in vaccination of 5122 of 5991 children (85.5%) from noncompliant households. During early 2007, the number of caregivers who had heard about SIA rounds from the media increased from 26% in January, before the JAP was formed, to 33% in March, after the initiation of JAP activities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The formation of the JAP resulted in measurable improvement in the acceptance of polio vaccine in northern Nigeria.
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Country Representative Office.
authors.forename: Charity
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Warigon
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Congo.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mkanda
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Country Representative Office.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Banda
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Country Representative Office.
authors.forename: Furera
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zakari
authors.affiliation: National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Eunice
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Damisa
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Country Representative Office.
authors.forename: Audu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Idowu
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Country Representative Office.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bawa
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Country Representative Office.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gali
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Country Representative Office.
authors.forename: Sisay G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Tegegne
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Country Representative Office.
authors.forename: Kulchumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hammanyero
authors.affiliation: Global Public Health Solutions, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nsubuga
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Country Representative Office.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Korir
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Country Representative Office.
authors.forename: Rui G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Vaz
mesh_terms: D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D008402:Mass Media; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history / Q000517:prevention & control*; D023321:Poliovirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D023321:Poliovirus Vaccines
keywords: Journalists Initiative on Immunization Against Polio; noncompliance; partnership; strong resistance to immunization