When Yabola, a young mother, received a routine reminder that her child was due for immunisation, she did not expect to spend the night wrestling with doubt. The doubt did not come from a doctor or a scientist; it came in a WhatsApp message from her husband’s elder sister. The message warned that the vaccine was dangerous and alleged that Bill Gates wanted to reduce Africa’s population because the United States had a low population. Yabola’s scheduled clinic visit was only hours away, but the words from a trusted family member had planted fear in her heart. This hypothetical scenario, shared by Mrs Chika Offor, Chief Executive Officer of the Vaccine Network for Disease Control, was more than just a story. It captured a reality that public health experts across Nigeria have struggled with for years: misinformation, especially when delivered by someone close to you, can override professional medical advice. To confront this challenge, experts from health, technology, media and community leadership came together at a summit convened by the Africa Hub for Innovation and Development under the theme “Catalyzing Country AI-in-Health Frameworks for Transformative Healthcare Systems.” The discussion focused on why vaccine misinformation resonates so strongly, how it spreads through communities and online platforms, and how artificial intelligence and community-led interventions can support accurate health communication. The meeting did not treat technology as a magic wand; instead, it explored how AI can work alongside human actors, from trusted health workers to religious leaders and journalists, to rebuild public trust in immunisation.
One of the central voices in the conversation was Mr Kshitij Joshi, Chief of Social and Behavioural Change at UNICEF. Joshi emphasised that local innovation and collaboration are essential in developing AI solutions that speak to Nigeria’s unique health information challenges. He argued that global models and imported tech fixes are not enough. The most useful AI tools would be those built by Nigerians, for Nigerians, with a deep understanding of local languages, cultural contexts and communication habits. To turn this idea into action, Joshi contributed to discussions around a proposed hackathon, a competitive event that would encourage young Nigerian developers to create applications and AI models that respond to real needs in their own communities. The hackathon concept was designed to do more than produce software; it was meant to create a pipeline of grassroots problem-solvers who understand the difference between a rumour and a verified fact, and who can build tools that help health authorities identify false claims early. Joshi’s remarks reminded the room that AI is not a mysterious force. It is shaped by the people who design it, and if the people designing it are rooted in the communities they serve, the outcomes are likely to be more relevant, more ethical and more trusted. His call for local innovation struck a chord because it addressed a persistent frustration: too many health campaigns rely on generic messaging that does not reflect how ordinary Nigerians actually receive and process information. By placing young developers at the centre of the solution, the summit suggested a new approach, one where technology is not imposed from above but grown from within.
Dr Joseph Oteri, Senior Programme Officer for Measles and Rubella at the Gates Foundation, took the conversation deeper into the emotional realities of vaccination. He said addressing misinformation requires acknowledging the genuine concerns of caregivers, not dismissing them. When a child develops fever, pain or cries for hours after immunisation, a mother or father can become worried. These reactions, while often expected, can feel alarming in the moment. Oteri stressed that health workers must explain these possible side effects before vaccination, not after, and offer clear guidance on what to do. Trusted health workers and credible community figures are the ones who can help caregivers understand that a sore arm or a mild fever is not a sign of danger, but a sign that the body is responding. Oteri recalled rumours that circulated during previous immunisation campaigns, including claims that vaccines could harm particular groups and suggestions that coconut water could prevent or relieve post-vaccination reactions. These rumours were not always elaborate; they were simple, memorable and spread quickly. During polio vaccination campaigns, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other influential community members played important roles in answering such claims. Oteri noted that AI can strengthen these human efforts by helping health authorities detect emerging misinformation and alert communication teams to claims that require investigation. The key is speed. If a rumour is caught early, health authorities can respond with accurate information before misleading claims take root and begin to circulate widely. Oteri’s remarks reflected a broader lesson: science alone does not convince people. It takes empathy, trusted voices and timely communication to help families make confident decisions about their children’s health.
The journalistic perspective was brought to the table by Mrs Moji Makanjuola, Founder of the International Society of Media in Public Health. She urged journalists to verify vaccine-related claims before publication, warning against the assumption that widespread circulation makes a rumour credible. Just because a message has been shared a thousand times does not mean it is true. Makanjuola described some of the damaging misinformation that circulated during polio vaccination campaigns, including allegations that vaccines could sterilise Nigerian women or were deliberately designed to reduce Africa’s population. These claims generated resistance among parents and entire communities, and overcoming that resistance required sustained efforts to establish the facts and restore confidence in immunisation. Journalists and other stakeholders investigated the vaccine process from production to administration to determine whether the allegations were supported by evidence. They found none, but in the meantime, many children had gone unvaccinated and communities had grown suspicious of health campaigns. Makanjuola shared a deeply personal memory from Jigawa State: a community health extension worker whose own daughter developed paralysis associated with polio because she had remained unvaccinated. The health worker had spent years encouraging other families to vaccinate their children, yet had failed to vaccinate her own daughter, perhaps influenced by the same whispers of doubt that affected so many others. The experience became a powerful part of Makanjuola’s advocacy. She would tell the story to communities, not to shame the mother, but to help families understand the real consequences of refusing immunisation. Makanjuola also called for specialised knowledge in health reporting. Journalists, she said, must acquire the expertise needed to ask relevant questions and identify credible sources. She urged simpler language in health communication, because technical expressions often prevent ordinary people from understanding vital information. Above all, she cautioned against publishing unverified rumours simply because they are sensational. Responsible journalism, she insisted, means establishing the facts before reporting them, even if that takes time.
The conversation then turned to the practical use of AI in monitoring public sentiment. Mr Tolulope Olowolaju, Senior AI and SI Associate at AHFID, explained that AI can be used to analyse public conversations and identify emerging concerns about health interventions across digital platforms. He cited social listening and sentiment analysis on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and X as approaches that can help organisations understand how people view vaccines and other health measures. Such analyses can reveal recurring concerns, repeated questions and information patterns that require further investigation or targeted communication. For example, if thousands of posts mention a specific fear about maternal vaccination, AI can help public health teams spot that pattern and respond with accurate, culturally appropriate information. But Olowolaju offered a crucial warning: automatically classifying negative online comments as misinformation is a mistake. Public reactions can reflect genuine concerns, personal experiences or a deep distrust of institutions, and dismissing those feelings as fake or false only deepens alienation. AI-supported responses must therefore consider context and distinguish false claims from opinions, factual information and legitimate questions. A mother who says she is afraid of vaccines is not necessarily spreading misinformation; she may be expressing a real worry that deserves a respectful answer. Olowolaju also highlighted the importance of accountability, responsibility, authenticity and trust in the development and deployment of AI solutions. Algorithms must be transparent, and the data they use must be handled responsibly. In responding to misleading information, credible sources and evidence-based counter-messages are essential. AI can help identify where rumours are emerging and what people are saying, but it cannot replace the ability of a real human being to listen, reassure and provide guidance. The goal, he suggested, is not to silence criticism, but to ensure that everyone has access to accurate, trustworthy health information.
Taken together, the summit’s discussions painted a clear picture: technology alone cannot resolve vaccine misinformation. No matter how sophisticated AI becomes, it cannot replace the credibility of a trusted health worker, the influence of a community leader, or the integrity of a responsible journalist. What AI can do is support these human actors, helping them detect rumours earlier, understand public concerns more clearly, and respond with messages that actually address people’s fears. Participants agreed that media capacity building is essential. Journalists need training in health science, data interpretation and ethical reporting. Technology developers need to work in partnership with health professionals, media representatives and community members to ensure that the tools they create are useful, ethical and culturally grounded. Collaboration is not a buzzword; it is the foundation of any successful response to misinformation. The meeting also stressed the importance of developing solutions that reflect Nigeria’s languages, communities and information needs. A chatbot that only speaks English, or an AI system that only understands urban contexts, will struggle to reach the people who need it most. The proposed hackathon for young developers is an important step toward this goal, creating opportunities for collaboration among young innovators, media professionals and other stakeholders. It also signals a shift in mindset: instead of reacting to misinformation after it has already spread, health authorities can use AI to monitor conversations, identify emerging concerns and respond proactively. But this technological promise must be matched with investment in community engagement, health worker training and responsible media practices. The story of Yabola is shared by many families across Nigeria. She trusted her sister-in-law more than the clinic that day, not because she did not care about her child, but because she had no reason to doubt a relative who only wanted to protect her. Rebuilding that trust requires more than facts; it requires empathy, presence and relationships. The summit concluded that credible information, responsible journalism, responsive health services and sustained community engagement are the essential partners of any AI tool. When these forces work together, there is real hope of overcoming vaccine misinformation and building a healthier, more confident future for every Nigerian child.