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By Hassan Zaggi
“Taking COVID-19 vaccine is one of the best decisions I have taken in my life as it has made me stronger and healthier,” says Isah Alhaji Lawal, a 53-year-old community leader in Maiduguri, Borno state.
He reiterated that the COVID-19 vaccine is not only safe but also helps to fight other illnesses in the body apart from COVID-19.
The community leader disclosed that: “The illnesses I normally feel in the past are no more. I am a person that fall sick often, but since I took the COVID-19 vaccine, its like the vaccine has taken all of them away. I strongly recommend it to everyone,” Isah Lawal said.
He, therefore, insisted that from his experience of the vaccine, it has no negative or any side effect
Isah Lawal who lives at Meri Ward, Tashan Bama Market in Jere local government area of Borno state, therefore, called on residents of the state and indeed, all Nigerians to take the vaccine as, according to him, it is effective and efficacious.
“I was the first person to take the vaccine in this community. I felt nice. The vaccine is very good. After taking the vaccine I felt stronger and healthier.
“When you take the vaccine, the feeling in your body will make you know that you have taken something that will defend your life and protect your body,” the community leader said.
Isah Lawal, therefore, advised Nigerians who have not taken the vaccine to rush and do so because, according to him, “I have seen the advantage. I have tested it in my body.”
Responding to a question on the general COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Borno State which has only vaccinated 6 per cent of its eligible population, the community leader said the traditional, religious, community, top government officials and opinion leaders need engage in awareness creation about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine.
“The major challenge is lack of enlightenment. It is only rigorous enlightenment that can improve the confidence on the vaccine and make people to come out to take it.
“It is important to note that if we must succeed in improving the uptake of COVID-19 vaccine among our people, there is need for community and other critical leaders to educate and enlighten the masses about the vaccine. Their silence and indifference is not helping matters,” he said.
Corroborating on the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine, the Health Manager of the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), Dr. Clement Adams, said the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and has no adverse effect.
“Let me encourage everybody that the vaccine is safe. Several people have taken the vaccine, for example, I have taken AstraZeneca vaccine three times and I am alive, nothing has happened to me. Several people have taken it and nothing has happened to them.
“I want to allay the fears of people that the vaccine is safe and so people should go and use the vaccine,” he said
