Residents shun COVID-19 vaccines in Bauchi, bribe for card

Amid threats by the Federal Government to sanction those who refuse COVID-19 vaccine, there is low turnout among residents of Bauchi for the second phase of the vaccines across the state.

Residents are also said to be cutting corners to procure the COVID-19 Vaccination Card without taking the jab.

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The Executive Chairman of Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (BSPHDA), Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, disclosed this to participants at the Media Orientation Meeting on COVID-19 Phase-2 Vaccination Exercise in Bauchi.

He attributed the rejection to series of false, misleading and conspiracy theories, especially, in the social media that the COVID-19 contained magnetic substances that killed people two years after taking the vaccines.

Giving an update on the ongoing COVID-19 vaccinations across the state, Mohammed explained that 2000 doses of the vaccines were sent to one of the local governments in the state but only 30 received the second dose of the vaccines and the majority of the people refused to avail themselves for the vaccination.

He said the Task Force Committee on COVID-19 and the agency had concluded plans to engage Imams and pastors in the enlightenment campaign to correct the misleading information about COVID-19 vaccination.

Commenting on the buying of the COVID-19 vaccination card, Mohammed said, “One of the health workers administering the vaccines reported that some privileged individuals are inducing them with money just to fill the vaccination card without taking the jab. The most disturbing part of the trend is some dignitaries are sending messages from Abuja to get the vaccination cards to them without taking the vaccines. We have already taken measures to tackle the problem and we will not allow the ugly trend in the state and everybody must take the jab before getting the cards.”

Mohammed said the meeting was to woo media in order to correct the misconception against the vaccine with a view to compliment government efforts to sensitize the public on the potency of vaccines in order to reduce the spread of the virus in the state.