In spite of the apprehension against the Covid-19 vaccination, a survey conducted by a health-based organisation, Partnership for Evidence- Based Response (PERC), has revealed that the two-third of Africans preferred the vaccination.
The survey, which was released in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Wednesday by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), said the survey was conducted in 19 African countries.
According to it, 91% of the people surveyed in Morocco were most interested in receiving the vaccines while Tunisia and Cameroon had the lowest number of people, at 35%.
The report disclosed levels of acceptability in other countries as follows; South Africa (61%), Zimbabwe (61%), Zambia (53%), Mozambique (75%), Egypt (78%), and the Democratic Republic of Congo (52%).
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Country Representative of Resolve to Save Lives, Dr Emmanuel Agogo, has outlined the reasons for vaccine hesitancy identified in the research.
He urged the media to take responsibility for enlightening the audience, saying that: “Journalists can inform and increase public confidence in vaccines”.
Agogo, who also encouraged journalists not to be sensational in reporting on vaccines since many myths are perpetuated, urged them to always disseminate reliable and accurate information.
He spoke yesterday during a webinar hosted by the Africa CDC’s public strategy firm, Gatefield, and the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, to engage journalists on the issue of COVID-19 vaccines safety, effectiveness, and distribution.
In his presentation, the Africa CDC recommended that African countries should continue the rollout of the vaccine.
An expert panel of journalists including Hopewell Chin’ono, an award winning investigative journalist from Zimbabwe; Dr. Laz Ude Eze, AIT television host; Tanya Farber, senior science reporter, Sunday Times; Vuyo Mkize, health writer, City Press; and Elizabeth Merab, health and science journalist, Nation Media Group, shared their experiences covering vaccines at the event and advocated more responsible reporting on the subject.
