Dr. Ebongo (middle) & his COVID-19 vaccination team in Tiko Facebook
The Regional Delegate of Public Health for the South-West, Dr. Ebongo Zacheus Nanje has urged the population of the region to take the COVID-19 vaccine so as to beat back the spread of the disease.
He was speaking at the start of a five-day vaccination campaign to intensify the outreach of the COVID-9 vaccine. The exercise which takes place in all 19 health districts of the South-West Regions runs from 7-11 July 2021.
Three months after the launch of the first phase of COVID-19 vaccination, Dr. Ebongo said less than two thousand persons had been vaccinated.
“We have a target of fifty thousand but it is very sad to say here that we have not reached even two thousand. I wish to encourage the entire population of the South-West to go and get vaccinated because it is the only efficient way to kick out COVID-19,” Dr. Ebongo told CRTV on July 7.
In a bid to meet the fifty thousand vaccination target set by officials, locals have been encouraged to take advantage of the vaccination campaign. Fixed and mobile caravans are administering COVID-19 vaccines to people 18 years and above.
Dr. Pamela Oben, Coordinator of the Expanded Program on Immunization in the South-West Region says the vaccine is free and safe.
“The two vaccines available for the campaign are the Sinopharm and AstraZeneca vaccines. Both are to be administered at the shoulder, preferably the left shoulder muscle. Before administration of the vaccine, we actually educate you on which vaccine you are going to receive and the potential side effects that may come up after receiving the vaccine,” she said. “We also tell you how we are going to follow you up after you receive the vaccine. The most common side effects observed include fever, nausea, vomiting, pain at the site of injection, abscess at the site of injection…We follow you up and we liaise you with a health facility that consults and follows you up.”
Dr. Pamela Oben encouraged the population that the vaccines are safe and effective to prevent COVID-19 infection, to prevent severe disease, and to prevent death from COVID-19 infection.
“You should openly welcome this vaccine. The vaccines are not recommended for children less than 18 and for pregnant women,” she said.
Over 120,000 Cameroonians are known to have received either the first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
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