The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar Iii, has urged political leaders in the country to take the COVID-19 vaccine in public glare.
This, he said, was to further drive acceptance of the novel coronavirus vaccines, most especially the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, in the country.
Abubakar, while speaking at a Sensitisation Programme on COVID-19 vaccine for Muslim Scholars and Imams in Nigeria on Friday in Abuja, said this would encourage and boost the confidence of Nigerians on the vaccines.
“We have seen the president take the vaccine publicly and we expect to see more political leaders take the vaccine openly.
“We believe all political leaders must take the COVID-19 vaccines first before the common man on the street because they are our leaders,” he said.
According to the Sultan, some people are in denial of the existence of the COVID-19 pandemic which has infected over 100 million people globally.
“There are those who do not believe in the vaccine or that COVID-19 even exists, but we believe because we have lost many of our close friends and family members.
“It is very important for us in advocating, to let people know that yes COVID-19 is there and yes there is a possibility of getting out of it. But it is left for you to act on it.
“It is left for you to want to take the vaccine because we will not force you. We only advise you and try to appeal to you as we did with the polio vaccine decades ago and today we are polio-free,” he said.
He urged Islamic leaders to educate people in their various constituencies on the safety and importance of taking the COVID-19 vaccines.
He noted that religious leaders would play a very important role in people’s acceptance of the vaccines.
“We all know the roles you play as leaders, your voices are very strong and people listen to you, they also believe in you,” he explained.
The Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib: said: “Today we are coming out fresh from an unnecessary controversy that trailed the introduction of AstraZeneca globally, especially the communications coming out of Europe about the linkage between AstraZeneca vaccination and blood clotting.
“While up to 20 countries paused the vaccination as a precautionary measure, for the common man in Nigeria, it is difficult to understand what the difference is between stopping the vaccination and pausing vaccinations as a precautionary measure.
“The good news is that on Thursday, the umbrella organisation responsible for regulating vaccine and immunisation in Europe – the European Medicines Agency, clearly finalised their investigation and came out with a report that it is safe to take AstraZeneca
“and that there has been no cause and effect relationship between vaccination with AstraZeneca and the blood clotting disorders. That is a very massive and welcomed development.”
Earlier, Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, said: “I am delighted to address our Imams and Islamic Scholars at this critical moment in our efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic through vaccination, which is a fundamental part of the COVID-19 containment and national response.
“On behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, I sincerely acknowledge and appreciate all your support and commitment.
“I want to use this opportunity to assure you that your labour will not be in vain. Together we shall win this war against COVID-19.
“I will like to appreciate the Sultan of Sokoto and our religious and traditional leaders for the very active and supportive role that we have received in the course of my management of the PTF on COVID-19 in articulating and promoting our national response,” Mustapha said.
Nigeria had since commenced COVID-19 vaccination campaign, haven received 3.94 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines through the COVAX facility in early March.
The rollout started with healthcare workers who were often at the risk of exposure to infections, being the first responders to patients.
However, vaccine hesitancy remained a major challenge that must be addressed if Nigeria was to have an effective vaccination campaign, health experts had continued to say.
President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo received jabs of the vaccines on Live television to encourage other Nigerians to accept it.
Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, while addressing journalists in Abuja in late January, said he and his colleagues would take the vaccines on live television, a promise some state governors were already fulfilling.
The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines had been administered across 34 states and the FCT, except Kogi in the country.
Kogi was yet to establish a fully functional cold chain facility in order to receive its allocation.
