By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (BASPHCDA) has uncovered attempts by some people to secure Covid 19 vaccination cards without actually taking the jabs.
This was disclosed by the State Executive Chairman of BASPHCDA, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed at a one day Media Orientation meeting on COVID-19 phase 2 vaccination exercise in Bauchi State held at the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), Bauchi.
Dr. Mohammed said that report reaching the Agency indicated that some well to do members of the communities are trying to induce health workers with money just to fill the vaccination cards for them instead of taking the jabs.
The EC further added that “some dignitaries are sending messages from Abuja to our health workers to get the vaccination cards across to them without taking the jabs. We will not allow that in the state, everybody must take the jab before getting the cards.”
He also stated that the state recently received an additional supply of AstraZeneca vaccine which were distributed across the state, lamenting that, “2000 doses were sent to one of the LGAs in the state but only 30 were administered as people refused to accept it.
He said that in spite of the rigorous education and sensitisation efforts of the government, people are still sceptical about taking jabs of the anti-covid vaccine in the state.
The Executive Chairman also said that, “the State COVID-19 Taskforce Chairman, Sen Baba Tela is saddened by the turn of the event and has directed us to immediately take action and ensure that everything possible was done to sensitise the people to accept the vaccination,”.
He disclosed that though people are being misled by the various misconceptions about the potency of the vaccines, he assured that every needed lab process has been taken before the vaccines were approved by the WHO for administration to the public.
Rilwanu Mohammed said that the essence of the Media engagement is to avail Media practitioners of the correct information on the COVID-19 vaccination situation so that they will have enough to disseminate to the general public.
He said that “the media has a significant impact on the success of the vaccination exercise, your education, information and sensitisation efforts will make people understand everything about the exercise. The media is a powerful tool to get the vaccination accepted.””
He however, appealed to community and religious leaders to educate their adherents on the need to take the vaccination which has over 90 per cent protection potency against the COVID-19 pandemic.