90pc of Apostolic sect children miss polio vaccination

NINETY percent of children from Apostolic sects were not vaccinated against polio during a recent immunisation campaign led by the Ministry of Health and Child Care in partnership with the Bulawayo City Council (BCC).

According to the latest council report, only 10 children from the churches received the vaccine, while the majority were denied immunisation by their parents due to religious beliefs. This has raised alarm among local authorities, who are calling for urgent intervention to address the matter.

“These vaccination campaigns are conducted in good faith to protect children from preventable diseases. The refusal to vaccinate not only puts these children at risk but also endangers the wider community. As a council, we need to take decisive action to safeguard public health,” said Ward 25 Councillor Aleck Ndlovu.

Religious doctrines within the Apostolic sects often discourage medical interventions, including vaccinations. While the local authority respects religious freedoms, the rising health risks associated with polio have prompted calls for immediate engagement with these communities to find a common ground where faith and health can coexist.

To tackle vaccine hesitancy, BCC’s health department has intensified outreach and education initiatives. Health workers are actively engaging with members of the Apostolic sects, emphasising the importance of immunisation in protecting children from life-threatening diseases.

Despite resistance from certain religious groups, the nationwide “Round 4 Polio Vaccination” blitz, launched last month, received overwhelming support from many communities.

Parents and guardians eagerly brought their children to designated vaccination sites, including public health centres, schools, and other strategic locations across Bulawayo.

In a recent development, the Government announced that it is in the process of drafting legislation that would compel members of Apostolic sects to allow their children to be vaccinated during mass immunisation programmes.

Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Sleiman Kwidini, acknowledged the ongoing challenges posed by religious objections to vaccination, which continue to hinder public health efforts.

In Zimbabwe, immunising children from Apostolic sects has long been a challenge due to widespread religious beliefs that discourage the use of modern medicine, including vaccinations.

These beliefs often lead to parents seeking immunisations for their children in secret to avoid repercussions from their churches, and this becomes particularly concerning during outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles.

The deputy minister, however, noted that some religious sects have become more open to vaccinating their children.