The Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (BSPHCDA), has constituted a 19-member Crisis Communication Center (CRICC), to create awareness on the COVID-19 vaccine.
Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, Executive Chairman of the Agency, stated this at the inauguration of the committee on Saturday in Bauchi.
Mohammed said the committee was set up in accordance with directives of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), to mobilise participation in the Phase II COVID-19 vaccination exercise.
He said that such awareness creation activities were necessary to promote behavioural change and encourage acceptance of the vaccines in the society.
“The myths on the vaccines have to be cleared for people to take their jab.
“We are going to inaugurate similar teams at the local government levels to create awareness on the vaccine.
“We appreciate the media for their contributions and free air time allocated to the agency to discuss issues around the disease,” he said.
According to him, terms of reference of the committee includes enlightenment on pre-vaccine arrival, vaccination phases and post vaccination responsibilities among others.
In his remarks, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, an official of the NPHCDA, said the aim of the CRICC was to improve confidence of the people on the vaccine from 62 to 80 per cent by the end of 2021.
Abubakar said the committee was expected to track, report and document rumours to aid intervention with regard to the vaccine.
Also speaking, Abdullahi Marafa, a member of the committee, said that the committee would work towards improving better understanding of the vaccines, to enable the state to record positive outcomes within a stipulated period.
Members of the committee were drawn from community and religious leaders, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), development organisations, media and National Orientation Agency (NOA).
