The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) with support from MacArthur Foundation organized a Press Conference towards implementing a “Public Education on COVID-19 Vaccine” in six Northern States.
The states are Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, Kogi, Kano and Plateau, with the aim of creating a public awareness around COVID-19 vaccine to ensure public accept and uptake of the vaccination.
Setbacks on COVID-19 vaccination were identified by CITAD through its monitoring of the vaccination chain, the organization has previously held two high level engagements with critical stakeholders within the health sector from both the project states and the other northern states.
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COVID-19: Public education on COVID-19 vaccination should be strengthened – CITAD
Hamza Ibrahim Project Manger, Public Education on COVID-19 Vaccine Project, CITAD expressed that problems hindering the vaccination should be addressed to avoid slow uptake of the vaccine and promote hesitancy.
“Some of these challenges are fear of side of adverse effects of the vaccines, healthcare workers vaccine hesitancy, lack of risk communication strategy, need to review Nigeria vaccine policy to incorporate vaccine need, Nonpayment of healthcare workers’ remuneration” He said.
Mr. Hamza tasked all stakeholders to take the challenges identified and treat them with serious need.
The Project Manger, recommended that, accurate communication on COVID-19 vaccination should be embraced, payment of healthcare workers remuneration and strengthening of vaccination policy should be considered by authorities.
He also called on general public to shun lies, misinformation and fake news on COVID-19 vaccination and also spread of inadequate information among public with no information access.
The organization said it will partner with relevant stakeholders to enlighten people on the need to take the vaccine.
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