Peoples Gazette
The government of Plateau has blamed COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the state on reports peddled on social media platforms.
The Commissioner for Health, Nimkong Lar, who spoke in an interview on Wednesday in Jos, said social media reports regarding the vaccine created a trust deficit, lowering vaccination coverage.
“Vaccine hesitancy is one of the biggest challenges we have on the Plateau,” Mr Lar said. “Initially, we were doing well. However, before the yuletide, there was a decline in the number of persons coming for the vaccine. Even the elites are not going for the vaccine that is free and readily available.”
Nonetheless, Mr Lar stressed that the situation would be tackled through re-sensitisation of residents. This, he said, the health ministry would commence soon.
He added that the sensitisation would focus on the benefits of vaccination and doing away with the hoax regarding the vaccine.
