Vaccine perception among acceptors and non-acceptors in Sokoto State, Nigeria.

•Perceptions people held about polio and oral polio vaccine affected their acceptance of oral polio vaccine in Sokoto State.•Those who perceived the severity of polio and their susceptibility accepted the oral polio vaccine during campaigns.•Opinion of family members about the oral polio vaccine moderated vaccine acceptance.•Oral polio vaccine acceptance was related to outbreaks of paralysis of any sort.•Implications of this study include the investigation of vaccine acceptance in a high risk population.