Booster shots uptake low

POOR turnout has charac terised some health centres in Lusaka following the com mencement of administering of booster vaccines and vac cination of children aged 12 years and above.

A check at Mtendere, Ka lingalinga and Levy Mwana wasa General Hospital found the facilities isolated with few people going for their boost er vaccines. A few children were found at Kalingalinga and Mtendere clinics for their vaccines.

This was after Health Minis ter Sylvia Masebo announced that administering of booster vaccines for people who earli er received the Covid-19 vac cinations and vaccination for children had commenced.

In an interview, Ms Mar garet Chongo of Kalingalinga Township said the poor turn out should worry the author ities who need to carry out massive sensitisation on the importance of getting booster shots.

She however said the chal lenge is that from the word go, people had been doubting Covid-19 vaccination follow ing the myth that whoever re ceives it may die prematurely.

Another parent, Mr Joseph Phiri, said there is need for the health authorities to ensure that the general public are in formed fully.

Mr Phiri alleged that some health personnel also did not have enough knowledge on the booster, leading to people not being convinced to get the shots.

“It will be very important if the Ministry of Health may initiate massive sensitisation on the importance of one re ceiving the booster as well as the Covid-19 vaccination be cause the myth behind it has since put fear in people,” said Mr Phiri.