Six weeks after taken delivery of the first batch of 65,410 Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, only 37.7% of target has received the COVID-19 vaccination in coal city, Enugu State.
The first phase of the vaccination targets health workers, frontline workers from sectors such as military, paramilitary, etc, COVID-19 response team, petrol station workers and strategic leaders (NPHCDA).
“Once the health workers are vaccinated, the second phase of the rollout will target adults aged 50 and older (with or without an underlying disease).
“Phase 3 will accept anyone aged 18-49 with underlying diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, lung disease, cancers, and heart conditions”
“And the fourth phase will expand to anyone in the 18-49 age group without any underlying disease condition,” Dr. Faisal Shuaib Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, said.
COVID-19 vaccination update by NPHCDA of 19th April 2021 reveals that total clients vaccinated with 1st dose of COVID-19 vaccine stand at 1,101,827 which is 54.8% of target according to rolled out plans for the first phase.
In Enugu, only 12,316 persons have been vaccinated as of Monday 19th April 2021 which represents 37.7% of targets reached (source: Electronic Management of Immunization Data, EMID, System).
The 12,316 vaccinated persons are a tiny fraction compared to over 3million persons in the state;
A fraction of enlightened personnel, persons at the top echelons in the society yet less than half of the target is reached.
This is worrisome and a better holistic approach must be inculcated in the plan for the desired goal to be accomplished.
In keeping with the plan, the next phase of the vaccination targets adults aged 50 and older with or without an underlying disease.
And so, to access the readiness and willingness of this target audience, WAP Enugu interviewed persons within the age bracket.
Majority of persons interviewed are still skeptical of the safety of the vaccine while others are of the opinion that a house to house or office to office vaccination be employed by the government.
However, the only persons enthusiastic about taking the shot are those who intend travelling outside the country because evidence of having taken the vaccine is now a major travel requirement.
“I will not take the vaccine yet until I see that it truly does not have any negative side effect. I heard the side effect is not immediate but manifests months and even years after taking the shot,” Mrs. Ethel A said.
A 52years old civil servant who pleaded anonymity said, “I never knew the state has started vaccination. Am not afraid of taking the shot but I will not cue up or stress myself to take the vaccine. Government should arrange for health workers to go to offices and homes to vaccinate us.”
Interestingly, another civil servant/ businessman who according to the rolled out plan fall within the second phase said he has been vaccinated.
“I got vaccinated within the first week of launching the vaccination in Enugu. I believe that these first doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca will not be adulterated and since it’s now a requirement for travelling, I went to ESUTH-Teaching hospital Parklane for the jab.”
A robust, interactive sensitization and enlightenment programme should be embarked on by information and communication agencies in collaboration with the Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency to allay the fears of the masses and accommodate their suggestions in planning for the second, third and fourth phase of the vaccination.
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