Urban dwellers told to stop brainwashing relatives
PEOPLE living in urban areas are brainwashing their relatives in maritime areas and influencing them against taking the AstraZeneca vaccine.
This, according to Lomaloma Sub Divisional Hospital medical officer Dr Luke Ravula.
During the Bula ko Lau virtual COVID-19 discussion on Thursday, he called on people in urban centres to refrain from circulating lies.
Dr Ravula said this was a major hindrance to COVID-19 awareness efforts in Vanuabalavu.
He said it was hard to take awareness to people when they already had ill-conceived ideas about the vaccine.
“As free people, those in the maritime areas need to make their own decisions on whether or not they want the vaccine instead of relying on information that is not true,” he said.
Dr Ravula said it was critical people in rural and maritime areas were vaccinated because they did not have easy access to medical services compared to their urban counterparts.
Lakeba Hospital physicians Dr Setareki Sowane and Dr
Raymond Waisale confirmed they had completed awareness and registration within the Lakeba Subdivision and people were looking forward to receiving their first jabs.
While participating in the forum, Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete said 83 per cent of the Lauan people had registered for vaccination.
He appealed to the remaining 17 per cent to get vaccinated to safeguard their province against the virus.