COVID-19 Outreach At Vakpo Community, Prampram

Following the high hesitancy towards the Covid-19 vaccination, a group of community influencers together with staff of the Ghana Health Service visited the Vakpor community to sensitise them on the significance of the vaccination and the need for the district to build herd immunity.

The gathering of community leaders, opinion leaders, parents and the youth received the team warmly. The health team explained the importance of the vaccine to members present. They likened it to the child vaccination against the six killer diseases. “The covid-19 vaccine works in similar manner to protect the individual against the disease”.

During interaction with the gathering, It came to light that majority of the community members held unto unexplainable myths and fears hence their resistance towards the vaccination. Some believed that government has an ulterior motive to depopulate the country, that’s why the vaccination is near compulsory. Others feared of losing their lives or vital functions of their bodies such as childbearing.

The team took turns to dispel these myths and speculations. They also brought out their covid-19 vaccination cards as prove to attest that the vaccine does not kill. Others who had babies post-Covid-19 vaccination also gave their testimonies against the speculations on sexual inactiveness. Other community members who had had the vaccination also joined in the call for others to take the vaccine for hedge immunity in the community.

Based on these, majority of the community members voluntarily took the vaccination. The few who were reluctant later came for the jab. There was a rare case of trypanophobia(fear of needles). Her intense fear for needles would not allow her take the vaccine. Her resistance was towards the needle and not necessarily the Covid-19 vaccine.

Even though she mounted courage to sit in the chair, the intensity of the fear resulted in tears and shivering. The health workers comforted her allowed her to pull herself together. She didn’t take the injection because she just couldn’t sit still.

ISD