COVID-19: FCTA vaccinates journalists to enhance public confidence

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Thursday begun the vaccination of members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Chapter, with a view to enhancing public confidence on the vaccine.

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, who inaugurated the exercise, at the NUJ Secretariat in Utako, said the administration considered it necessary to vaccinate journalists because they are indeed part of the frontline workers.

Represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Strategic Communications, Malam Abubakar Sani, Bello, noted that the vaccination of journalists would serve as living testimonies to some Nigerians who are skeptical about it.

“We considered it necessary to initiate this process of vaccinating members of the fourth estate of the ream because journalists are indeed frontline workers.

“The FCT Administration considers the relationship between the NUJ and the administration as a very productive and strong relationship.

“It is in the realisation of the fact that journalists who reports day-to-day activities that are happening in the society are exposed to the dangers of COVID-19.

“Some of them even go to the COVID-19 Treatment and Isolation centres to get testimonies from people infected with the COVID-19 virus,” Bello said.

Responding, the FCT NUJ Chairman, Mr Emmanuel Ogbeche, said vaccination of journalists would speak more than any advocacy carried out by the government before.

” Because journalists will attest if the vaccine have any side effects, understand what the issues are and give feedback to the public.”

Leave a Reply