Abbas Yushau Yusuf

The centre for information technology and development has decried non payment of Covid 19 vaccine to Administrators.

Hamza Ibrahim,Project Manager,Public Education Vaccine Project Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) stated this while addressing Journalists at the Headquarters of CITAD in Kano.

According to Hamza Ibrahim the centre implemented the Public Education on COVID Vaccine project.

He pointed out that the project which is supported by MacArthur Foundation is aimed to educating and enlightening the public on the role and relevance of COVID vaccine.

He noted that they work with 18 partners across six northern states, namely: Bauchi, Borno, Kano, Kaduna, Kogi and Plateau.

Hamza Ibrahim asserts that COVID outbreak is no doubt one of the pandemics the world has witnessed recently where Deaths have been recorded in towns and villages, movements have been restricted, lockdowns imposed, gatherings banned, and people have really felt the consequences of the pandemic greatly, these measures were laudably taken to address the pandemic.

“Therefore standing against COVID should not be the role of governments at different levels, civil society or private sector-led initiatives, rather the larger members of the society have a crucial role to play.

Efforts no matter how carefully tailored cannot alone succeed in addressing the virus if members of the society do not support and cooperate with the initiatives, taking the vaccine is surely one way to prevent ourselves from the virus.

COVID Vaccine Administration Situation from States
The data we at CITAD gathered from researches and engagements conducted by our 18 partners across six states of the north has given us a broader perspective on the hindrances and challenges of the COVID vaccination in those states. The hindrances and challenges differ from state to state as can be seen below”

The project manager public education further cited example with Borno state where there are 87 vaccination spots across the 27 local governments of the state but said the main challenge of getting as people as possible vaccinated are as follows,lack of COVID certificate seal or barcode in 70% of the vaccination spots , Nonpayment of COVID vaccine administrators , Misconception on vaccine amongst government officials,lack of sufficient information on where and how to be vaccinated .

Hamza added that the above problems are creating serious hindrances to COVID vaccine administration in the state.

He said established partners that more than 70% of the vaccination centres had ran out of seal to place on the vaccine certificates of the vaccinated people.

” We therefore appeal to Borno state government to immediately access the seals for smooth vaccination exercise to take place in the state. Another critical challenge is in the area of nonpayment of the health workers involved in the vaccine administration. Lack of that motivation has further made some of the staff to be completely absent at the vaccination spots or close before time. This situation has made people who want to be vaccinated not to access the vaccine. There are also misconceptions and conspiracy theories around the vaccine that some government officials in the state have which has also been a serious problem to getting people vaccinated, this has not only demoralized many people, but it has also reinforced their disbelief and rejection of the vaccine”

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In Plateau state, while there is information on where and how people can get vaccinated, the major hindrances are however stated as follows

Fear of Future of Consequences of the Vaccine
, Conspiracy Theories of Opinion Leaders
While there is information on vaccination spots in the state, the major challenge as found by our partners in the state is the fear that many people have on the vaccine, believing that it has future consequences on the people that accept the vaccine.

Hamza noted that the rumour circulating on the vaccine remains a critical hindrance and to complement the earlier negative narrative, some opinion leaders in the state hold strong negative views about the virus and its vaccination, that is a major problem to getting more people accept the vaccine despite considerable information flow on accessing the vaccine.

CITAD therefore urge the state government to look into that and address those problems.

For Kogi state Hamza said more people are accepting the vaccine and that is largely due to role of elites, federal and state civil servants in accepting the vaccine.

Coming to Kano state Hamza said findings indicate that teachers in Tsangaya schools reject the vaccine because according to them their numerous problems have been left unattended to and unaddressed as well.

Some of them feel the vaccine is not as important as other critical problems they have which is also a major hindrance.

It is unfortunate that despite the difficult moment COVID has pushed people into, vaccination against the virus in the country is still very low.

CITAD therefore recommend the following steps to be adopted

1. As a matter of urgency we appeal to all unvaccinated Nigerians to quickly go and take the vaccine.
2. We urge stakeholders and opinion leaders in Plateau state to work together to address misconception theories on COVID and its vaccination as well as enlighten the public on the relevance of the vaccine.
3. We urge authorities in Borno state to ensure the provision of sufficient seals to the vaccination spots and motivate vaccination staff by paying their allowances
4. We urge people to disregard fake narratives around the vaccine as the narratives were not scientifically proven. Reputable health agencies have confirmed the efficiency of the vaccine as such people should disregard the rumours
5. Health authorities in various states should prioritize information sharing on how and where people can get the vaccine.
6. To this end we would like to strongly appeal to traditional and religious leaders, the media, community associations and opinion leaders in the society to join us in the campaign to enlighten people on the relevance of the vaccine and taking it.
7. We want traditional leaders to use their chain of leadership to emphasize the role of the vaccine and taking it, we equally want religious leaders to sensitize their members and followers in various fora on taking the vaccine.
8. We want to urge all and sundry in the society to corporate with authorities in their quest to curbing the spread of the virus by adhering to all measures being put in place.
9. COVID is not over yet, therefore measures such as putting on face masks and avoiding crowd or maintaining social distancing where necessary should still be observed.
10. If you are not vaccinated, quickly and get vaccinated!