By Lizzy Carr, Bauchi
The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has described misinformation about COVID-19 vaccine as hindrance to vaccine uptake.
The Coordinator, Public Education on COVID-19 Vaccine Project at CITAD, Hamza Ibrahim stated this on Thursday at a press conference to share key hindrances to COVID-19 vaccination exercise identified in six states of the project implementation.
CITAD with support from MacArthur Foundation is implementing a “Public Education on COVID-19 Vaccine” in six states of the north that include Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, Kogi, Kano and Plateau.
“The project is aimed at creating awareness around COVID-19 vaccine with a view to getting acceptance and uptake of the vaccine by people,we worked with partners from different backgrounds and professions to enlighten people on the need to take the vaccine.
“Having monitored COVID-19 vaccine administration in the six project states for the last two months, we are displeased to note that we have identified both general and specific issues hindering uptake of the vaccine thereby further risking the efforts at addressing the pandemic.
“This we must say is unfortunate particularly at a time when new variants of the virus are emerging.”
According to him, CITAD noticed that misinformation about COVID-19 vaccine is still prevalent, alleging that some state governments are in some way aiding non acceptance of the vaccine by not fully supporting the vaccination exercise.
“The issue of requesting people to make payments to be vaccinated will not only hamper the vaccination exercise but make people to stay away from taking the vaccine, and this potentially renders more people insecure.
“Our observation also shows gaps in the coordination of vaccine distribution by agencies responsible within the healthcare chain.
“While in Borno state people going for second doses of Astrazeneca and Moderna were told that the vaccines are not available, in Plateau state 45,288 doses of Pfizer had to be recalled after distribution to local communities for nearing expiration. Again visits to some vaccination spots in Plateau indicate that unavailability of the vaccines”.
The lack of proper coordination Ibrahim noted is causing delay in accessing the vaccine vaccination spots.
“The problems identified are no doubt hindrances to the COVID-19 vaccine uptake and if not addressed quickly will reinforce the misconception and fake news in circulation about the vaccine, and that will sabotage the efforts geared towards containing the virus and addressing the pandemic in general.”
CITAD called on the state governors to, as a matter of urgency, work to address the identified problems.
“They should examine the vaccination channel in their separate states to have a broader view of the identified problems and deploy the needed mechanisms.”
While urging the public to disregard misconceptions and false narratives around COVID-19 ,the organisation appealed to State Primary Healthcare Development Agencies in the six states, to review their operation manual to ensure proper coordination for effective vaccination exercise.
