Miss Rosemary Simi Emmanuel has shared her COVID-19 Virus and Vaccine experience on the Special COVID-19 Awareness Program brought by Comrade Friday Bako with support from CITAD and MacArthur Foundation aired on KT 103.9 FM following the outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the institution of Lockdowns in the country. Rosemary who is a Social Media Influencer, Peace Promotion Fellow and Jos Gender Based Justice advocate said that she had just returned from her Industrial Training and was due to move to her 500 level in the university when the outbreak was reports.
Expectedly she narrated that she expressed fear over what she described as unachieved plans, she had challenges saying at home haven spent four years on campus have learnt that the COVID-19 Virus was highly communicable.
She explained that what scared her the most concerning the COVID-19 Virus was that people could look OK but could still contract the COVID-19 virus and will need treatment. She noted that religiously her church didn’t give out any information as regards the virus, they just prayed as usual.
As a social media influencer, she noted that at first she was not sure and was part of the people who bought the idea that the virus was manufactured to reduce population, she had however learn more haven been educated about the virus and vaccines, pointing out that though she has not been very close to anyone who contracted the COVID-19 Virus, she was scared because everyone avoided her when she had the flu. She said that she felt bad because of the stigma associated with the fear of COVID-19.
She expressed that the COVID-19 Virus is still with the society though countries have eased down the protocol, there is still risk of contracting the virus. She expressed concern that though the COVID-19 protocol was being observed, markets were without the necessary enforcement and compliance, which according to her was as a result of disbelief about the virus.
She noted that government did not give citizens reasons why the existence of the COVID-19 Virus should be taken serious, hence the hesitance towards the COVID-19 virus, treatment and Vaccines.
On the COVID-19 Vaccine development, Miss Rosemary noted that because of the time it took for the Vaccines for other illments she had little reservations for the speed at which the COVID-19 Vaccine was developed. She noted that though she was indifferent about the COVID-19 Vaccine, a conversation between her mom and her aunty encouraged her to go take the COVID-19 Vaccine. She noted that though she had reactions and side effects, she was encouraged not to have worries when she attended the Public Awareness Campaign Town Hall meeting organized by Comrade Friday Bako she got more education. She noted that the Scientist who educated attendees on the COVID-19 vaccine she was encouraged.
She described as unscientific and random claims that people who have taken the COVID-19 Vaccine would die after two years, stressing that after talking to a health practitioner about the issues, she was convinced that there was no cause for alarm.
She cautioned the public not to take any social media content discouraging them from taking the COVID-19 Vaccine, because it is a normal vaccine like any other vaccine that has been administered in the past, hence there was not need to be afraid because the effects were normal, urging that it was better to take the COVID-19 Vaccine.
One Mr Yakubu who called in noted that when he took his first jab at his office he had serious side effects. He said that he didn’t return because he didn’t know where to get the 2nd and booster jab. He was however informed to visit the nearest Primary Healthcare Center to get.
Nigeria Star News 