The Sokoto State Ministry of Health in collaboration with Plan International Nigeria which is a Global Affairs Canada Funded Show Costed Extension COVID-19 Response Project, have organised a one day stakeholder sensitization on Covid-19 vaccine rollout.
Speaking at the sensitization workshop, the State Commissioner of Health, Dr Muhammad Ali Inname, said Covid-19 vaccine is safe and those considered within the vulnerable ages should strive towards being vaccinated.
Dr Inname explained that the State received over 60,000 doses of the vaccines and so far administered it to over 15,000 individuals across the State.
He added that the State is targeting more individuals as the first doses were administered to various people and the subsequent one will follow after six weeks.
The Commissioner call on all relevant Stakeholders especially religious and traditional leaders to continue to join hand with government to sensitize their people to accept the vaccines as its safe.
He however charged them to create more awareness to their people to adhere with all protocols for overall health benefits of societies.
While clarifying rumour and misconception on COVID-19 vaccines, Ameena Saidu from PLAN International said the media must be positively engaged to entrench acceptability of the Covid 19 vaccine.
“The media must sensitize the communities with the right information from the right sources as it’s no longer news that there are so many unconfined theories about the validity or otherwise of the Covid 19 vaccine”, she said.
On her part, UNICEF Communication Specialists, Sokoto Field Office, Esther Shisoka, said health workers as well journalists should try to address the concerns of people by giving them the right information without judging.
Shisoka while speaking on “Enhancement of Health Workers Communication Skills on COVID-19 Vaccination, added that, some may be hesistant towards accepting the Covid 19 vaccine because of misinformation.
The engagement meeting was carefully selected by the Ministry and it’s partners Plan International from Religious, Community leaders, CSOs and among others for sustainable enlightment campaign at their various destination.
