By Chioma Obinna
For decades now, vaccination programmes in Nigeria have been making progress.
But the advent of COVID-19 vaccines may be bringing back ugly years of vaccine hesitancy which experts fear may erode gains already made in routine immunisation.
According to experts, vaccine hesitancy is a continuum between vaccine acceptance and refusal.
Eligible Nigerians are either delaying or refusing COVID-19 vaccines, even after the World Health Organisation, WHO, has confirmed the safety and effectiveness against the dreaded virus.
Sunday Vanguard reports that if left unaddressed, vaccine hesitancy will not only threaten COVID-19 response but prevent Nigeria from achieving herd immunity.
Vaccine apathy threatens COVID-19 response
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By Chioma Obinna
For decades now, vaccination programmes in Nigeria have been making progress. But the advent of COVID-19 vaccines may be bringing back ugly years of vaccine hesitancy which experts fear may erode gains already made in routine immunisation.
According to experts, vaccine hesitancy is a continuum between vaccine acceptance and refusal.
Eligible Nigerians are either delaying or refusing COVID-19 vaccines, even after the World Health Organisation, WHO, has confirmed the safety and effectiveness against the dreaded virus.
Sunday Vanguard reports that if left unaddressed, vaccine hesitancy will not only threaten COVID-19 response but prevent Nigeria from achieving herd immunity.
The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) on Friday reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to get every eligible Nigerian vaccinated against COVID-19.
Mr Bawa Abba, National Supervisor for Adamawa COVID-19 Vaccination, NPHCDA, spoke in Yola, Adamawa, on the sideline of a three-day “Media Dialogue On Routine Immunisation, Post Polio Certification and COVID-19 Vaccination”.
The meeting was organised by The Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture in collaboration with the UNICEF. x
According to Abba, while the FG is putting efforts to make COVID-19 vaccines available and ensure that Nigerians get vaccinated, no fewer than two million Nigerians have so far been vaccinated accross states and the Federal Capital Territory with the Astrazeneca vaccine.
Covid-19 :UNICEF partners religious, traditional leaders to prevent vaccine hesitancy in Borno state Calls for sustained routine immunization guardian.ng - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from guardian.ng Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Take second dose of COVID-19 vaccine, UNICEF urges Nigerians Take second dose of COVID-19 vaccine, UNICEF urges Nigerians
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The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged those who received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, AstraZeneca vaccine, to take a second dose for stronger immunity against the virus.
Mrs Elizabeth Onitolo, UNICEF Communication for Development (C4D) Specialists, made the call in Yola on Wednesday at a three-day media dialogue on Immunisation, Post-polio Certification and COVID-19 Vaccination.
The programme was organised by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture in collaboration with UNICEF.
Onitolo urged those who were vaccinated to also observe the protocols to safeguard other people from the virus.