By Joyce Remi- Babayeju
The Primary Health Care Agency, NPHCD, the agency responsible for vaccinations in Nigeria has finally dispelled all viral social media misinformation about the ongoing COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination in Nigeria.
Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib at the Weekly Media briefing on progress of COVID-19 vaccination in the country on Tuesday dispelled all social media misinformation targeted at discouraging the vaccination which he said is safe for individuals.
Shuaib said, “As you may already be aware, we are witnessing an increasing wave of COVID-19 misinformation and disinformation that should leave any patriotic Nigerian wondering how long mischief makers want the world to remain in the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic itself.”
“The creativity with which some people misinform others and spread misconceptions about COVID-19 vaccination calls for more deliberate, decisive, and consistent steps to counter as well as provide correct and accurate information that will help more people to make informed decision to get vaccinated against COVID-19.”
He decried the extent at which the right of
the public to true and accurate information on matters of COVID- 19 vaccination is being threatened by just a few others who are taking advantage of the social media to mislead people about their health.
The agency condemned the manner in which anti- vaccination elements come up with magnetic conspiracy deceiving the public with videos that COVID-19 vaccines create magnetic field around vaccination sites and can cause the body to light up an electric bulb .
He said that it is unfortunate vulnerable people believe the the ridiculous conspiracy theory and are taking the risks of avoiding COVID-19 vaccination.
The agency showed the media a a practical demonstration to dispel the conspiracy magnetic and lighting bulb theories surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine.
It is necessary to confront the false theories for Nigeria and world to kick out the pandemic and recover from its adversities, he said.
The agency further dispelled false theories that the vaccines are being used to depopulate Africa, and that anyone who takes the vaccine will die after two years among others.
The agency compared the COVID-19 vaccine to the polio which was misinformed to cause death of children but that after many years children who took the polio vaccines are still alive and have grown into adults.
On the success recorded so far about the vaccination in the county, Shuaib said that presently ,495,632 people have been vaccinated with the first dose, while 1,370,130 have received their second dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria, adding that overall, Nigeria has successfully utilized 3.9M doses, representing 96% of the 4,024,000 doses of the vaccines received in the country.
The UNICEF Country Representative, Dr. Gupta Gangan commended the leadership of NPHCDA for the success far in the vaccination of Nigerians despite the negative mis- information in the social media to create doubts about the COVID- 19 vaccines.
