IGNORE FAKE THEORIES
ZAMBIANS and other nationals must be wary of deceitful social media crusade against Covid-19 vaccination, which may work towards reversing efforts expended on sensitisation thus far.
Some agents of doom have covertly embarked on a sustained campaign against the life- saving vaccines, posturing that their intention is to save human lives when the opposite is true.
Fake news about the vaccine is on the overdrive on social media and it is incumbent upon all enlightened citizens to help debunk the myths and conspiracy theories.
Inaccurate information doing the rounds postulates that the vaccination causes impotence in both men and women.
Others are peddling toxic lies that the Covid-19 pandemic is a conspiracy of pharmaceutical firms that they want to maximise sales of their products to boost their business.
Propagandists have infiltrated social media platforms with misleading sentiments that Covid-19 is a pre- planned project to cover the Bill Gates trackable microchip while others claim that the vaccine is aimed at altering the DNA of people.
Of what benefit would scientists and global organisations derive from inserting any chip in human bodies!
Unpatriotic elements are instilling fear in innocent citizens.
Ultimately, a number of people are hesitant to take the vaccine while others have outrightly rejected to go for the jab.
Truth be told, these vaccines are developed by globally- acclaimed scientists, with unquestionable credentials who are attached to international health and research organisations; they are visible and can be reached.
Secondly, the vaccines have been tested all- around and proved safe and workable through various credible bodies such as the World Health Organisation ( WHO).
But individuals and groups posting “negative” effects are unknown; they are neither scientists nor proven researchers.
In short, they do not present their arguments from a scientific stand- point, but engage in pedestrian and misleading posturing.
Such elements are harmful propagandists, who are not representatives of any medical or research institution. They are a bad example of social media activists!
They have enlisted many people especially women to demonstrate that the vaccines are harmful when in fact not.
Our advice to the citizens is that they must ignore unverified information, especially that which is being peddled on social media by questionable personalities.
Zambians must only get information from the Ministry of Health which is operating in line with strict WHO guidelines.
In fact, about 8.3 million people have been targeted out of which 3.6 million will be vaccinated without charge under the COVAX vaccine- sharing scheme backed by the WHO and GAVI vaccine alliance for poor and middle- income countries.
More than 4.7 million people will be covered by Government with support from other governments and donors using a basket of vaccines.
The vaccination programme will cover all people over the age of 18, or 46 percent of the 18.3 million population.
Currently, the second dose administration is underway and therefore citizens in this bracket must get the jab.
The media is particularly useful and well- placed to drive the sensitisation initiative so is the Church and the civil society movement.