By Kalmana Afsa, Bauchi
Health Reporters in Bauchi have expressed commitment to disseminate correct and accurate information about COVID-19 vaccine in order to curb hesitancy.
They made the commitment on Tuesday during a one-day media orientation meeting on COVID-19 phase 2 vaccination exercise organized by the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, SPHCDA, with support from the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, NPHCDA.
The meeting aimed at empowering the media with correct information about COVID-19 so that the populace will be guided on vaccine hesitancy.
The chairman of the agency, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed urged reporters to be vanguards of the truth, while lamenting the continuous rejection of the vaccines.
According to him, only two percent of Nigerians have been vaccinated.
He added that over 60,000 people were vaccinated during the first phase who are mainly frontline health workers.
The Head of communication at NPHCDA, Muhammad Abubakar and Incident Manager, Dr Garba Bakunawa urged journalists to always cross-check their facts before going to press.
He added that as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, journalists should support government in properly educating residents about the vaccine safety.