COVID-19 : Need to create awareness, ensure fool-proof inoculation

Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief last Tuesday when the federal government led by the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire; Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib, and other top government functionaries finally received the first batch of the long-awaited COVAX 3.92 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. This is good news and very heartening.

The pallets containing the shots were ferried in an Emirate plane — Boeing 777300ER, which arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja in Nigeria at 11.36 a.m. on Tuesday.

Ehanire assures Nigerans of COVID-19 vaccines delivery

According to COVAX global scheme, it is to procure and distribute inoculations for free, to contain the coronavirus pandemic, ravaging the world, Nigeria being no exception .

From available reports, a total of two billion doses are expected to be delivered to COVAX member nations by the end of 2021 and the 3.92 million doses are Nigeria’s first shipment from the 16 million doses initially expected in the country.

Again, this is heart warming, with information of more vaccines still on the way and in addition to an extra 500,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine donated by MTN, the telecom giant, expected to be delivered soon.

While it is expected that more corporate organizations and friends of Nigeria will key into the corporate social responsibility enthusiasm of MTN, ThisNigeria observes that creating awareness about the vaccine and the management of the process and programme of vaccination, should guide the entire process.

Interestingly, the Federal Government in the flag-off ceremony with frontline health workers in Abuja, listed guidelines that will be followed, in addition to those earmarked for the first round. This is a good and welcome arrangement so that everyone will be inoculated at the end of the day, especially those who have indicated their interest in the vaccine, following an opinion poll previously carried out by the national primary health care development agency. In the report, 50 per cent of Nigerians are willing to be inoculated, 25 per cent not interested and another 25 per cent with a ‘not too sure’ response, in the Vaccine hesitancy Chart designed by the agency.

Certainly, advocacy for aggressive enlightenment of the vaccine to Nigerians is what is apt and needed seriously now. Such awareness should not be watered down or given less priority.

ThisNigeria, however, endorses one, an aggressive alertness that must be assertive, create awareness in a multifaceted campaign that will educate Nigerians on the efficacy of the vaccine, promote its friendly disposition, and reduce the fear of any adverse reaction.

Apparently, this is what is germane and appropriate, so that more Nigerians can be encouraged to be vaccinated and further reduce the negative 50 per cent response, which is still high and antithetical to overall fight and resolve to contain and completely eradicate COVID-19 pandemic, the way Ebola and Polio were defeated.

Although there are still doubts mitigating against the vaccine, notwithstanding the 50 per cent that have agreed to be inoculated, this  regretful scenario is the reason government must step up its awareness campaign by directing the National Orientation Agency to move swiftly into the states and local government areas in the country to enlighten Nigerians.

Besides, government should develop radio jingles in the major ethnic languages, television adverts and village town hall meetings. This consciousness is imperative to reduce or completely eradicate the remaining 50 per cent, that is half of the 200 million Nigerians that are not keen in enrolling in the inoculation.

If half of Nigeria’s 200 million population   are still endangered because the other half refused to be vaccinated, then the COVID-19 pandemic will not be contained aggressively in the manner government wants to eradicate it through vaccination and make the country, COVID-19 free. Certainly, this is counterproductive, because the daily rate of those who contract the disease will  not only increase the number of deaths in the country,  more Nigerians will be susceptible to the disease, thereby making a mockery of every efforts by government, development partners to stop the pandemic.

Coming against this backdrop, ThisNigeria, cautions that every dose of the vaccine must be accounted for, while a fool-proof programme for those already enrolled to be vaccinated be properly articulated. We detest the ‘Nigerian factor’ during this inoculation exercise, like the many failed programmes of the past.

For instance, Nigerians are not unaware of the National Identity Number fiasco that is still incomplete till date. We do not want to find ourselves on this unfortunate and tumultuous road again. Although we implore every Nigerian to police the vaccine distribution, especially in the states that are set to receive their shares, officers and designated government officials engaged in exercise, either as health worker must keep the vaccines safe and must rise above board. They must not hoard or steal, otherwise the process will be derailed.

Therefore, we implore our businessmen, traders who invest in every and anything, including faking the vaccines, to look elsewhere. Let all of us be patriotic this time as COVID-19 knows no boundary, ethnic or religious. Every Nigerian must be the police of the vaccine and report any untoward action to the security agencies.

From the various cold rooms or storage facilities to the targeted audience earmarked for inoculation in this first stanza of the programme, all Nigerians must act as vigilantes. Our frontline health workers must continue to make us proud by also detaching from any unwholesome actions that will compromise the good intentions of vaccinating as many Nigerians that are willing.

In addition to the urgent need for adequate enlightenment and transparency, we caution that no body or group should hijack the process. The vaccines are free and should not be sold, while the FG should come clean on this, like Mr. Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation assured, during the roll out vaccination programme in Abuja.

The SGF assured of more vaccines and warned Nigerians not to patronize fraudsters, who are only out to get rich and endanger the lives of Nigerians.

Finally, we are unequivocal that Nigerians should not lower their guards. The virus is still killing people. Inoculation alone will not end the pandemic. We must continue to obey the safety protocols of wearing face masks, washing our hands, and keeping the 20-metre social distancing.

Obviously, there is no gainsaying that the country is presently undertaking one of the major and most intricate vaccinations campaigns in history. We note this and the choice to get it right this time is ours;  to do only those right things that will make the exercise succeed. This is our position.