Covid-19 vaccine apathy: Health officials scout for first dose recipients

Officials of North West Regional Delegation of Public Health have called on those who had earlier received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to ensure that they complete the dose for the effectiveness of the vaccines.

The head of the North West Expanded Program on Immunization Dr. Cornelius has warned that the deadly variant, the delta variant is already in Cameroon.

The delta variant could be 60% more contagious than the other variants like the English Alpha variant, South African Beta variant.

According to the World Health Organisation, WHO, some evidence also suggests that the Delta variant is linked to more severe and longer-lasting cases.

Dr. Cornelius also cautioned that the vaccine is intended to ensure that the country properly manages the pandemic.

According to reports, Cameroon has used just 12% of its Covid-19 vaccines, with only 68,000 people receiving at least one dose due to widespread mistrust in the shots.

The country which has received just over 590,000 vaccines, is struggling to inoculate its population due to hesitancy.

According to the minister of Public Health, the country of 25 million people had planned to vaccinate 812,000 by July 31, 2021 but that has not been the case.

More than half of the country’s vaccines are AstraZeneca Plc doses from the Covax facility, backed by the World Health Organization, with the balance made up of the Sinopharm and Sputnik versions from China and Russia respectively.

Misinformation on social media has fueled reluctance, according to the Cameroon Public Health minister.

Timfuchi Aaron