The acting Executive Secretary (ES) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Primary Health Care (PHC) Board, Dr. Iwot Ndaeyo, has called on residents to turn out for the ongoing Covid19 vaccination.
He said that most of the vaccines will no longer be useful after July 5th when the first batch of the vaccination exercise will end.
Ndaeyo made the call Thursday in Abuja when a media based Non Governmental Organization (NGO) PAGED Initiative, paid an advocacy visit on his office, to enquire about progress on the exercise and how it can support with media campaign to enable more citizens take the jab.
He expressed displeasure on the low turnout of FCT residents for the vaccine, adding that a lot of negative messages which he faulted as not true has created fear and discouraged many from taking advantage of the free vaccination.
“Vaccination is a major issue in Nigeria, after the first jab, low turnout is what we are experiencing as many negative comment is out there as news and this is deterring a lot of people from taking the second jab.
“Mostly of the vaccines will no longer be put to use after this month as vaccination for this first batch will end 5th of July. There is a need for effective communication and fact checking,” he said.
“The nature of the COVID 19 pandemic is changing daily, the available network it seems cannot with stand the constant change of the pandemic, and there is need for flexibility of change of information,” he added.
Explaining further, the Director of Primary Healthcare at the board, Dr. Rukaiya Wamakko said Over 138,000 people were vaccinated in the FCT for the first and second dose, stating however that a lot more vaccines are yet to be distributed due to poor turnout of citizens.
“We still have much more available for people to get vaccinated . We are urging people to come out and get the vaccine because the FCT may likely stop giving vaccination on the 5th of this month(July) so people from 18 and above including people with Asthma, Diabetes, Hypertension should come out and get vaccinated because it protects, it helps and it’s free,” she said.
“No drug is safe, not even multivitamins so reaction to medicine is different and ranges from mild, moderate to severe reaction. Some other reaction is psychological, coincidental and the vaccine don’t go into the reproductive system for women who are scared that the vaccine stops the menstrual flow,” she added.
Earlier, the Managing Director of PAGED Initiative, Ummi Bukar, said the visit was to provide a platform for the board to link them with media organizations to enable them counter all fake information about the Covid19 vaccination so that more people can get vaccinated.
