.Dispels insinuations on vaccination
The University of Ibadan COVID-19 Emergency Response Committee has inaugurated the institution’s Task Force Supervisors on COVID-19 to curtail the spread of the virus and promote hygiene within the university community.
The committee was inaugurated on Thursday, September 16, at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Auditorium, UI, with training done for the COVID-19 Taskforce members at the open field of the Auditorium. The COVID-19 measures of regular hand washing, use of face mask and physical and social distancing were emphasized and demonstrated at the training.
The Chairman, UI COVID-19 Emergency Response Committee, Prof. Victoria Adetunji, while shedding light on the essence of the training, lamented that a lot of scary lies that discouraged people from getting vaccinated were being spread about COVID-19 vaccines.
Adetunji noted that many Nigerians were afraid of taking the COVID-19 vaccines because of the myths that the they were produced to control the global population.
Contrary to the insinuations, the don said that the vaccines in the country were certified good and not targeted at reducing human population as being rumoured.
Expressing worries on the danger of not getting vaccinated, she said, “Many are not taking the vaccine because of the myth going round that COVID-19 vaccine is meant to kill people. Some are saying it is the mark of the devil, 666 but as a Christian myself, I know that rapture would have taken place before the devil’s mark would be given.
“Vaccines would reduce the impact of the disease peradventure one comes down with it. I know we are going to have improved vaccines with time, but what is available now can protect us from a serious impact of COVID-19.
“It is safe, I have had mine and I had just mild temperature after taking it and I am very fine now. These myths are confusing people on wether they should take the vaccine or not.
“When you say somebody that took the vaccine died or came down with the disease, what many don’t know is that some people have underlining ailments that may have predisposed them to such situations.
“Statistically, if you look at the disease burden among the vaccinated and the unvaccinated, you will see that the unvaccinated people are the ones that are prone to having COVID-19. I am advocating that everybody should go and get vaccinated.”
Dr Aderonke Ajav, Director of Health Service, University of Ibadan, said that people had no genuine reason to avoid vaccination.
According to her, the projection of the university was to vaccinate all students and staff as well as other members of the university community but the institution could not force the people to take the vaccine.
The acting Vice-Chancellor, UI, Prof. Adebola Ekanola, who harped on the need to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols on the campus, said it was unfortunate that many did not believe that the virus was real.
Ekanola, who was represented on the occasion by Prof. Keye Abiona, Dean of Students Affairs, said, “We have to obey the protocols before we ourselves can correct others. We don’t want the university of Ibadan to be shut down; we don’t want to lose anybody anymore.”
Earlier in her address, Adetunji said, “Instituting COVID-19 Emergency Response Committee by the university management is part of the university’s efforts to respond adequately, effectively and efficiently to curbing the spread of COVID-19, and thereby make the university community a safe place for teaching-learning and research activities. Therefore, inaugurating COVID-19 Taskforce is essential for the smooth and impactful operation of the committee.
“Already, the COVID-19 Emergency Response Committee is in operation. There are Taskforce teams in departments and units of the university as well as residential communities on campus. Also, Taskforce supervisors have been selected across academic and non-teaching staff of the university to oversee and report the activities of the Taskforce teams.”
