COVID- 19 Vaccination:
Mixed Reactions As Exercise Trickles Down To Grassroots
By Onyedika Agbedo, Tobi Awodipe, Ijeoma Thomas- Odia and Maria Diamon ( Lagos), Ahmadu Baba Idris ( Birnin Kebbi), Isa Abdusalam Ahovi ( Jos), Charles Ogugbuaja ( Owerri), Ibrahim Obansa ( Lokoja), Timothy Agbor ( Osogbo), Abel Abogonye ( Lafia), Mansur Aramide ( Gombe), Gordi Udeajah ( Umuahia) and Monday Osayande ( Asaba)
ALTHOUGH Nigeria made serious efforts to procure doses of the Oxford Astrazeneca COVID- 19 vaccine for the inoculation of citizens against the dreaded disease, there indications that unless the country embarks on serious sensitisation campaigns, a good percentage of the population would not be vaccinated. This is because many Nigerians appear not to be well informed about the exercise and have decided not to partake in it.
Findings by The Guardian across the states showed that some Nigerians still strongly hold that COVID- 19 is a scam; hence there is no need for any vaccination against the virus. Many others rejected the vaccine out of fear. To this category of people, taking the vaccine amounts to a huge risk especially as many European countries including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Norway and Denmark, among others, had suspended its use pending a review of its safety by the European Medicines Agency ( EMA). Although the EMA last Thursday declared that the vaccine was “safe and effective” and its benefits outweighed its risks, it is not clear yet whether people in this category would change their minds.
Nevertheless, there are others who expressed confidence in the World Health Organisation ( WHO) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control ( NAFDAC), both of which certified the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. This group of Nigerians told The Guardian they were eager to take the vaccine more so when many traditional, political and religious leaders in the country have received their jabs.
In Lagos State, which remains the epicentre of the disease in the country, the government last Tuesday released the list of 88 accredited health facilities that were carefully selected to administer the vaccination across its 20 local councils. The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, who released the list, in a statement, disclosed that the inoculation could only be obtained at any of the 88 accredited facilities, noting that, “vaccination outside of these locations in Lagos State is highly prohibited and will attract heavy sanctions through our regulatory agencies.”
He also explained that vaccination would be conducted in four phases. Phase one covers healthcare workers, COVID- 19 response team, ports of entry staff ( air, land, and seaports), laboratory network, judiciary, military, police, other security agencies, petrol station workers, teachers, press and other frontline workers.
Phase two would focus on people aged 50 years and above as well as those living with co- morbidities who are between 1849 years of age.
Phase three would be dedicated to people in the local councils with the highest burden of the disease and those who missed phases one and two, while phase four would focus on other eligible populations.
A visit to a few of the centres showed that the decentralisation of the exercise was yet to yield the expected result, as the turnout was low. At Gbagada General Hospital, a health worker who didn’t want to be named, said they had been trying to encourage people to come out and get vaccinated but the response was low despite their efforts.
“We told them it is free of charge and nothing was going to happen to them but I guess there is still so much misinformation circulating around because some people tell us that they were told they would fall sick and/ or die if they took it. I tell them that I took it and I am still very much alive and well but I guess they don’t believe me.”
She urged residents to take advantage, saying they started three days ago and would be there till next week. She also said the vaccine has no side effects to the best of her knowledge. “Don’t allow anyone scare you; I am aware that some people are hanging around, telling people not to come and get it but please don’t listen to them,” she added.
However, some residents who received their jabs at the centre complained that the process was a bit cumbersome even as some health workers refused to take shots of the vaccine. “Everything in this country is politics, even to collect vaccination card is wahala. We got our vaccines an hour ago but we have not collected cards because people are very impatient and won’t wait their turn. At my centre, they have been begging health workers to come out and take vaccine for two days now; they had to return some yesterday and the day before. Those same workers are now causing problems for the people who are making sure the vaccine doesn’t waste today,” recounted one Adeola, who was at the centre when The Guardian visited last Thursday morning.
According to her, she got to the hospital around past 7.00am in order to be attended to on time.
“I came here with my sister and a friend very early and we were given numbers; I was number 15. They explained that they were going to vaccinate the health workers first before attending to other people and I said that was fine by me. However, to our surprise, the health workers were refusing to be vaccinated, saying they should attend to other people first. They just left us sitting there for hours before they eventually decided to start attending to us. I finally got my shot around midday,” she said.
She wondered how the health workers were going to convince other residents to take the vaccine when they themselves were refusing to take it.
A cursory look at the premises showed it was not busy; suggesting that many people either did not know the vaccination was ongoing or simply chose not to come and be vaccinated. However, Adeola said it could be that most people were still waiting to be alerted via email as they had registered online to be inoculated.
“When the portal was opened for registration to be inoculated, I registered everyone in my family but I got a mail a few days later saying it was canceled. In fact, the only reason I knew I could walk into a centre and get vaccinated was because I saw people posting online that they had just got vaccinated and I decided to take a chance,” she added.
The story was not different at Ilasamaja Primary Health Centre, where The Guardian also observed a poor turnout. A resident in the area who identified himself as Sola Shonibare said he would not take a shot of the vaccine and would neither allow any of his family members to take it because he still didn’t believe the virus was real.
“You have been brainwashed and they have sent you here to come and brainwash me. Did you get COVID- 19? Did I get it? Why are they now telling me to go and collect one injection from somewhere, injection that I don’t know what is inside or where they got it from,” he said, then hissed and walked away.
One of the nurses at the centre said they had been educating residents on the benefits of getting the vaccine. “You know how our people can be; you have to introduce things slowly to them, especially things they are not familiar with. You can’t force them to get it. We don’t want these vaccines to waste so we are doing our best to get more people to turn up,” she said.
A resident in Kosofe local council, who identified himself as Kelechi, said he got his shot at Ketu Primary Health Care Centre. Narrating his experience, he said the exercise was very easy and encouraged people to get their shots. “Someone told me about it and I just walked there very early today, registered and got my number. I initially thought the place would be very busy and uncoordinated. But there were very few people there and it was quite seamless to my surprise. When it was my turn, I was given and that was it; I didn’t feel any pain or side effects. Some people were saying we should use paracetamol but I don’t see the need for it when I am not feeling any pain. If anything changes, I would let you know but for now, I am fine,” he said.
For Gideon Ayogu, a civil servant, the concerns over the Astrazeneca vaccine have made him to decide not to take it. He said: “More European countries have suspended its use. It has been reported that the vaccines have caused blood clots in some recipients, a major worry. However, the Nigerian government has insisted on the safety of the batch it received without any form of empirical basis. Further, it has stated that it would be continuing the use of the vaccine and I think that is a misguided move. I would not be taking the vaccine because I’m more worried about the potential of having blood clots which could be a source of major ailments or even death.”
A public relations consultant, Toluwalase Bakare, said: “I am not sure I will ever be taking the vaccine, not anytime soon. Let the guinea pigs go ahead first. It’s like eating undone food. There are still new findings emerging from the administration of the vaccines and this is a major source of worry for me.”
On her part, a businesswoman, Anthonia Duru, said she had booked an appointment to receive the vaccine but she was scared. “I booked an appointment for it online but I was scared because of the negative reports I keep receiving. However, I will go next week. I have made up my mind to take the jab even though my husband said I shouldn’t; he is scared but I don’t blame him. A family friend even said he wouldn’t come near me for at least two months if I go for it. Coronavirus is still very real. So, I will definitely persuade my husband to allow me go.”
Reports from Kebbi, Plateau, Imo, Osun, Nasarawa, Gombe, Abia, Adamawa and Delta states showed the situation in Lagos was being replicated there. In Kogi State, which is yet to take delivery of its first batch of the vaccine, an atmosphere of apprehension pervaded the air. The Guardian presents details of how the vaccination exercise is progressing in the aforementioned states in the following reports.