By Mama A Touray
Health authorities are pleading to people to go get their vaccination against coronavirus infection in order to help the country to rapidly get rid of the virus amid vaccination hesitancy.
The Gambia is suffering a third a wave of coronavirus infection which has propelled the infection numbers and deaths.
“We called on the press to help us spread the information about the third wave and update the public on the effects of Covid-19 third wave. Covid-19 is real and it’s skyrocketing every day and we want the public to know that and follow the preventive measures such as physical distancing, wearing of face mask, and regular washing of the Hands amongst others. Let’s come and take the vaccine and we should not wait till it’s late and say I want to be Vaccinated,” Modou Njai,Director of health promotion and educational directorate appealed at a press briefing.
“We calling the Gambians to come on board and take the vaccine, the vaccine will strengthen your body system. Without media print electronic including online we cannot reach the people,” Sidat Fofana, program manager at the expanded program on immunization also said.
Aja Kandeh, communication officer at expanded program on immunization said: “the AstraZeneca vaccine was received 2nd March and vaccination began 5th March, launched 10th March and the second dose started 17th March. 36,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine was received out of which 31,000 doses were used and the rest were wastage to us 31,254 national took the first and second dose of the vaccine, 6000 health official received the first and second dose 480 people Vaccinated over the week at Sukuta Health Center that is the Sinopharm vaccine
“There is no cost attach to the vaccine so rush now and took your jab and there is misinformation in social media about the vaccine which the public should know that the vaccine is safe 2nd March the AstraZeneca vaccine was received, 1st June the Sinopharm was received and 20th July the Johnson and Johnson was received at the Banjul international Airport,” she added.
Meanwhile, Haruna S. Jallow senior lab scientist at the National public health laboratory said “We have seen the increase in number of Covid-19 cases it should be a concerned to every Gambians.”
Jallow added that the sample collection is still going on and they will do with only one site and that’s the independence stadium it will start from 11am to 2pm.
“The vaccine is there to boost your immune system, you take the dose because it fights the metabolism, If one person in a family is Vaccinated and the rest are not Vaccinated you still have high risk of being infected by the virus,” he said.
He concluded that the Covid-19 vaccine cannot prevent an individual from getting the virus it just strengthens your immune to fight the virus, adding that “we started the vaccination on Saturday and after receiving the dose we are going on a massive campaign to every corner of this country with 26 teams to be sent in different dimensions.