Public urged to accept COVID-19 Vaccines to Build ‘Herd Immunity’

Members of the public have been urged to accept the COVID-19 vaccine so as to build ‘herd immunity’ which is the indirect protection from an infectious disease. This was disclosed during a town hall meeting organized in Shendam LGA by Comrade Friday Bako with as part of a Special COVID-19 Public Education with support from CITAD and MacArthur Foundation.

Speaking at the event, Public Health Policy Manager, Consultant Pathologist Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Dr Mbwas Mashor, called for a general acceptance of the vaccine so as to build ‘herd immunity’ also known as ‘population immunity’, which is the indirect protection from an infectious disease that happens when a population is immune either through vaccination or immunity developed through the previous infection.

He noted that the WHO, FDA and other responsible bodies have approved the vaccines which will support achieving ‘herd immunity’ through vaccination, not by allowing disease to spread through any segment of the population, as this would result in unnecessary cases and deaths.

Dr Mbwas further stated that if only a few people get the vaccine, the virus will now multiply amongst those that did not get the vaccine and will constitute a nuisance and become a problem and disease to the people, that is why it is important for everyone to get the vaccine so that we will develop a higher immunity so the virus will have no individual left to multiply. In his own words his noted that “We need a higher percentage of the population to take the vaccine so that it can be effective amongst the total population.”

Participants at the town hall acknowledge that the meeting has further deepened their knowledge on Vaccine Safety and efficacy, as they will now act as ambassadors that will talk to others about the safety and effectiveness of the covid-19 Vaccines so as to increase the vaccine uptake.

Comr Friday Bako, Implementing Partner of CITAD/MacArthur Foundation COVID-19 Vaccine Public Awareness Project encourage participants to become ambassadors by not only getting vaccinated but also reaching out to peers, and family members, and the general public on Covid-19 Vaccine Safety & Effectiveness.