Medics Decry High COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy In SW

By Tata Mbunwe

Health officials in the South West region have decried what they say is the extremely high level of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy across the area.

The cry comes as government launches a fourth round of intensive vaccination campaign against the pandemic.

While launching the campaign in the region on March 16, South West Regional Delegate of Public Health, Dr Filbert Eko Eko, said just 3.5 percent of the populace has taken a shot since the first vaccination campaign was launched in April last year.

“Despite this sensitisation, a lot of efforts being done, and we’ve already had three different campaigns, vaccination still remains low with the target population of individuals that are vulnerable to this disease,” said Dr Eko Eko.

He added that: “Unfortunately, several factors have contributed to the poor uptake of COVID-19 vaccines. Personnel perception is one; controversial messages on social media; conspiracy theory, propagation of false information, rumours, religious, traditional beliefs,” he added.
In a statement, the Buea Regional Hospital Director, Dr Martin Mokake, said COVID-19 remains a “sad reality”, which can only be contained through vaccination.

Amid unbelief and conspiracy theories circulating about the pandemic, Dr Mokake said the virus continues to kill millions in the world today and has stripped several people of their livelihood, even in Cameroon.

The recently launched COVID-19 immunisation campaign will run from March 16-20 across the country. It targets people aged 18 and above; especially people with underlying health conditions like diabetes, cancer, and hypertension.
Health personnel are highly targeted in the current campaign, as many of them are also sceptical about taking the vaccine.

“Health personnel are very vulnerable. Vaccinating yourself reduces you contracting the disease, reduces you transmitting the disease, reduces you dying from the disease and reduces you developing severe disease when you contract the virus. That’s why we are encouraging all health personnel to be vaccinated,” Dr Eko Eko said.
Three vaccines will be available for the current campaign, among them the Sinopharm, Johnson and Johnson, and Pfitzer vaccines.

A representative of South West Governor at the launch , Vanessa Bembe said: “The main vaccination strategy for the campaign will be fixed vaccination in all vaccination centres and vaccination in mobile strategy, that is, specialised for the elderly and will have places of worship and private services, markets and penitentiary centres, communities, chiefdoms, households”.

Medics say at least 70 percent of the Cameroonian population needs to be vaccinated in order for people to attain health immunity against the virus. If attained, this immunity will allow people to go about normally without any obligation to wear facemasks or respect social distancing measures