Tunatar da ni. The Immunization Reminder and Information SMS System (IRISS)

General broadcast of SMS messages on the importance of immunization to all active mobile phone subscribers in the intervention LGAs

Traditional and religious leaders who have a phone or access to a phone and have been registered on IRISS will receive SMS messages on the immunization session schedule of the health facilities in their communities, so they can disseminated the information through their town announcers to inform parents and caregivers. For example, "Ribah clinic is holding a vaccination session tomorrow from 8am to 2pm. Please take your child there to vaccinate them and encourage your neighbors to vaccinate their children."

Traditional and religious leaders who own or have access to a phone and have been registered on IRISS will receive SMS messages on immunization, to share same with community members. The message categories are: 1) Educational messages that provide facts and increase knowledge, e.g. "Have you heard of Penta vaccine? It protects against 5 diseases: they are diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, HiB and Hepatitis B." 2) Informative messages that dispel myths about immunization, e.g. "Getting more than one vaccine at the same time does not harm a child. It is very important to completely receive all vaccine doses for full protection." 3) Normative messages to promote positive norms, e.g. "Our religious leaders have immunized their children, what are we waiting for"? 4) Motivational messages to inspire action, e.g. "Each visit to the health center for vaccination will reap many health benefits. Say YES to good health, be on time and complete your child's vaccination."

Parents and caregivers who voluntarily registered their child's information into IRISS will receive a reminder, a day before, about their child's due vaccines and the schedule of vaccination sessions in the health facilities within their locality (wards), e.g. "Greetings! Amina is due for Penta 1 tomorrow, kindly visit Ribah clinic. They vaccinate on Mondays and Thursdays."

If individuals from control LGAs encounter IRISS adverts inadvertently and erroneously register into IRISS expecting a message, to avoid a loss in trust if no message is sent, they will receive a one-time general message about the importance of hand-washing, e.g. "Wash your hand with soap and water every time you finish from to the toilet, to maintain clean hands and avoid germs that make you sick."