Journalists share COVID-19 vaccination experience, insist there’s no side effect

Olumide Iyanda, publisher of QED, and Francis Kokutse, a Ghanaian journalist, have shared their experience after receiving COVID-19 vaccination.

They spoke on Saturday via Platforms Africa e-Discourse, a community of opinion leaders across Africa.

Ghana and Nigeria are administering the AstraZeneca vaccine supplied by COVAX, an initiative aimed at ensuring equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine. COVAX is led by UNICEF, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Iyanda said he was vaccinated in Lagos, adding that he did not require registration to get vaccinated as there was a low turnout at his health centre.

He ascribed the low turn-out to skepticism and public apathy.

“I had been treated at one of the 88 centres designated for the vaccine in Lagos, so there was really no need for ‘man-no-man.’ Besides, there were few people there who came for the vaccination,” the journalist said.

“Many people here still believe COVID is for ‘big men’ and are not bothered about the vaccine. Talk to a trusted health practitioner, preferably, someone who knows your medical history and has been vaccinated him/herself.

“It’s an infectious disease that may make you fall sick or, as seen in some cases, lead to fatality. I know positive people who showed no symptoms. I also know people with mild to severe symptoms.

“And I also know some who died from complications linked to COVID. I, however, do not have a morbid fear of the disease. Just do the needful and hope for the best. I believe the world will overcome COVID.”

Asked how he felt about getting the shot, he added: “I was calm. I had already spoken with my doctor who received the vaccine some days before me. He assured me it was safe. I wouldn’t say that everybody experienced calmness.

“People’s state of health and mind may affect how they feel before and after. Someone told me she had a slight but very brief pain in her left arm after getting the jab. Others told me there was no side effect.”

Kokutse, a former West Africa correspondent at Indo-Asian News Service and stringer for Associated Press (AP), urged Africans to take the COVID-19 vaccine as priority, especially as vaccination helped fight polio.

“Let me just say they should look back in time to remember that vaccination (polio) saved them from childhood diseases. I have a family member who is crippled now because the parents missed the polio vaccination,” he said.

Commenting on the aftermath of getting vaccinated, he said: “l went for it and did not feel anything. I was expecting some reactions but, nothing happened.”

On the controversy surrounding the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine, Kokutse added: “It looks [like] there is some geopolitics involved. African governments should [provide] resource for our scientists to do the necessary studies.”

Last week, the presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19 said 8,000 Nigerians had been vaccinated across 35 states.