Restoring Trust: Agness Chinkudzu’s Journey Fear to Confidence in Polio Vaccination

For a long time, Agness Chinkudzu carried a fear that many parents can relate to: the fear of seeing her child fall ill. Living in Kuyenderana Village in Chikwawa, she had watched her child become sick after previous vaccinations and was convinced that vaccination was the cause. The experience left her deeply worried and determined that her child would never receive another vaccine. 

When polio vaccination teams visited her community during successive campaigns, Agness consistently refused. No matter how many health workers came to her home, her answer remained the same. Behind every refusal was a mother trying to protect her child from what she believed could cause harm. 

“I decided that I would never vaccinate my child again,” she recalls. 

But during the most recent campaign, something changed. Despite her hesitation and constant refusal during previous campaigns, the vaccination team did not give up. They reached out to Agness again, this time taking time to listen to her concerns and discuss what families should do when a child becomes unwell following vaccination.

Rather than focusing only on vaccination, the health workers took time to listen. They sat with Agness and allowed her to share her fears and past experiences. For the first time, she felt that someone was hearing her concerns instead of dismissing them. 

The team explained what parents should do if a child becomes unwell after vaccination and why it is important to report any concerns to health workers. They reassured her that health facilities and community health workers are there to investigate symptoms, provide care, and determine whether an illness is related to vaccination or another health condition. 

Meretina Washa, Senior Disease Control Surveillance Assistant, says reporting such incidents is important because it allows health workers to monitor possible vaccine side effects and determine whether the symptoms are related to vaccination or could be caused by other medical conditions.

“Reporting helps us monitor the child and establish what could be causing the problem. It also gives us an opportunity to check the child’s general health and provide the appropriate support,” Washa explains.

According to Washa, continued communication between families and health workers is equally important. When parents report concerns instead of keeping them to themselves, health workers can respond, investigate and provide appropriate guidance.

“This promotes collaboration between the community and health workers for the health and wellbeing of the child,” she says.

For Agness, the conversation brought reassurance and a new perspective. She realized that she did not have to face her fears alone and that support was available if any concerns arose. What began as a discussion about vaccination became a moment of trust, understanding, and partnership between a mother and the health workers serving her community

Her story is a powerful reminder that vaccine refusal is often not rooted in mere unwillingness, but in genuine concern for a child’s wellbeing. Sometimes, changing minds is not about repeating messages. It is about listening with patience, answering questions honestly, and building relationships one conversation at a time. 

However, health workers say not all cases are resolved as easily. Zainub Mtola, a Health Surveillance Assistant serving communities under Mtambanyama Health Centre, says some families have refused vaccination for more than 13 years because of religious beliefs, trusting faith alone to protect their children. To reach these families, health workers often work with traditional leaders, pastors, and relatives who can help create opportunities for dialogue

Mtola says the challenge is balancing respect for individual beliefs with the responsibility to protect children from polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases. In some cases, families agree to vaccination but later avoid the vaccination teams, leaving children unprotected and at risk. These experiences highlight the need for stronger community engagement, ongoing dialogue, and collaboration with traditional and religious leaders to address misconceptions and build confidence in vaccines. 

Today, Agness’s experience offers hope. It shows that when health workers take the time to listen, acknowledge fears, and respond with empathy, trust can be rebuilt. Her journey also reflects a broader lesson for polio eradication efforts: every missed child has a story and understanding that story is often the first step toward ensuring that no child is left behind.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.