“Illness never leaves my house.”
That’s the first thing Asma told a health worker when she visited the International Medical Corps-supported Robad Aqlalaa health facility in Yemen’s Ibb governorate. As a mother to four children aged 1 to 8, Asma worried constantly about their health, because they were frequently sick.
When the health worker asked about her children’s vaccination status, Asma responded firmly, “I can’t vaccinate them. Vaccines are what cause illness and fever. My children have weak immunity, and I will not bring sickness to them with my own hands.”
Hundreds of miles away in Al Musaymir district, another mother shared similar fears, saying that vaccination was a Western concept that did more harm than good. Years of misinformation convinced Fatima not to vaccinate her child, Yousef.
Mohammed Mohsen Nagi Hussein had equally strong beliefs. When his 3-year-old daughter, Rayhan, developed a severe cough, high fever and hoarse voice, Mohammed took her to a health facility that International Medical Corps supports in Marat, in Al Hussein district. When a health worker asked whether Rayhan had received routine vaccinations, Mohammed said that his family did not believe in them. “Vaccines are unsafe and cause dangerous diseases,” he said.
These parents, like thousands across Yemen, based their decisions on years of misinformation about vaccination, which is one of the most effective ways to prevent and eradicate infectious diseases. Yet, the vaccination rate for preventable diseases such as cholera, measles, polio and whooping cough is alarmingly low in Yemen.
The factors that contribute to vaccine hesitancy include:
- fear about the immediate side effects of vaccines;
- concerns about infertility or long-term health effects;
- a weakened health system, which raises doubts about vaccine quality and storage conditions;
- religious and cultural beliefs;
- influence of decisionmakers, particularly fathers and community leaders;
- limited health education of mothers; and
- poverty that prevents families from traveling far to vaccinate their children.
But expanding vaccination services alone isn’t enough, say experts. We need to build trust among families.
“To increase vaccination uptake, we need more than just availability of vaccinations,” says Edmund Nabena, Deputy Director of Medical Programs for International Medical Corps in Yemen. “We need to rebuild confidence, address fears by providing accurate information and make services more accessible to communities.”
Breaking the Chain of Misinformation
Community health volunteers (CHVs) can help to close that gap. That’s why International Medical Corps works with the Ministry of Public Health and Population to train CHVs to provide families with accurate and up-to-date health information—including the importance of vaccination.
CHVs go from house to house to encourage parents to vaccinate their children. When a baby is born, they help families get registered at the nearest health facility for routine immunization.
Haifa Muthana Ali Sale is a CHV who organizes awareness sessions among families to improve their knowledge of the importance of vaccination, especially for measles. During one such session, she met Abdulbaqi Ali Hassan, a father of five children, none of whom were vaccinated. Hassan and his wife had misconceptions about immunization, especially the measles vaccine, and were unaware of the potentially fatal complications of the disease.
With patience and reassurance, Haifa explained to the couple the importance of early childhood immunizations and how they can help prevent diseases like measles, polio and diphtheria. By the end of the discussion, Hassan and his wife agreed to vaccinate their children.
Building Trust, One Conversation at a Time
When Asma talked to the health worker about her fear of vaccination, it became an opportunity to build trust. The health worker explained to Asma how vaccines work, emphasizing that they protect children from serious and potentially life-threatening diseases. She reassured Asma that mild reactions after a vaccination—such as low-grade fever—are normal and temporary, and that vaccination actually strengthens children’s immunity rather than weakening it.
A few weeks later, Asma returned to the health center to vaccinate all four of her children. The health worker vaccinated the three older children against measles and tetanus and enrolled the youngest child in the routine immunization schedule. Asma promised to follow up diligently to ensure that her children received all required doses on time. This decision soon began to pay off.
A few months later, a grateful Asma returned to the health facility and shared that her children were healthier. “Since I vaccinated them, I no longer visit the doctor as often as I did before,” she says. “Their health has completely changed, and they’re now more active and stronger.”
Asma’s story shows how building trust, addressing fears and providing accurate information can transform lives, ensuring that every child has a healthier and safer future through immunization.
“All I Needed Was Trust and Courage”
In late September 2025, a team of CHVs visited Fatima’s village to raise awareness about vaccination. Going door to door, they explained to caregivers the importance of childhood immunization while listening to their concerns and reassuring them, one home at a time.
When they reached Fatima’s house, her hesitation was apparent. “I’m afraid something might happen to Yousef if I vaccinate him,” she said. One of the CHVs patiently explained how vaccines save children’s lives and protect entire communities from disease. A neighbor who had vaccinated her own children joined the conversation and shared her positive experience.
As Fatima listened, her doubts began to fade. A few days later, she took Yousef to the nearest health center for his first vaccination. When the health worker handed her the vaccination card, she held it with joy and confidence. This small document recorded the details of Yousef’s first vaccination—while reflecting a mother’s courage and determination to protect her child’s future. “I was afraid of the unknown,” Fatima says. “All I needed was trust and courage to take a step toward a secure and healthy future for my child.”
Sharing Knowledge to Educate the Community
When Rayhan came down with pertussis (whooping cough) and developed complications, she had to undergo a week of treatment at a hospital—which could have been avoided had she been vaccinated against the disease.
Following this frightening experience, Mohammed decided to vaccinate Rayhan against childhood illnesses. He also recognized the importance of breaking the myths and misconceptions about vaccination he had previously believed. He started sharing his knowledge and experience with his extended family and neighbors. The ripple effect in the community was evident—other families from his village started visiting health centers to vaccinate their children.
“We made the mistake of not vaccinating our daughter due to our wrong beliefs that vaccines could harm her,” Mohammed says. “This resulted in a serious infection, and we don’t want to risk losing her again. We now understand the importance of vaccination and will ensure that our daughter is protected against diseases.”
Across Yemen, CHVs continue the lifesaving work of dispelling myths about immunization and giving parents the confidence to make informed choices for their children. Each conversation builds trust, supports immunization campaigns and strengthens resilience.
That’s why International Medical Corps supported the 2025 national polio campaign in Yemen, training 149 CHVs across Al Dhale’e, Al Hodeida, Lahj and Taiz governorates. These CHVs played a crucial role during the three-day campaign, conducting 2,571 home visits and reaching more than 8,500 people.
For families like Asma’s, Fatima’s and Mohammed’s, changing minds about vaccination started with a simple conversation. Today, those conversations are helping more children across Yemen grow up healthier and better protected from preventable diseases.
Learn more about our other lifesaving health services in Yemen.