Senior government officials get vaccinated against Covid-19, a move to encourage Cameroonians
The officials took the jab at a rollout ceremony held Wednesday in the capital of Yaounde.
CAPE TOWN, April 23 (ANA) – Cameroon’s Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute, together with several ministers and members of the diplomatic corps, has received the first shots of the Covid-19 vaccine in a move to encourage Cameroonians to get vaccinated, according to reports on Thursday.
Chinese news agency, Xinhua reported that they took the jab at a rollout ceremony held Wednesday in the capital of Yaounde.
“I feel good after taking the vaccine. I encourage all Cameroonians to do the same,” Ngute said shortly after getting vaccinated.
He said he was confident in the vaccine and hoped the inoculation of government officials would let residents feel safe to get the vaccinated.
Efforts to fight the pandemic, including the voluntary vaccination program, require the full collaboration of the people of Cameroon, Ngute said according to Xinhua.
Cameroon launched its vaccination campaign against Covid-19 on April 12, a day after receiving its first batch of 200,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine from the Chinese government as a donation to the Central African country, according to news agency Anadolu.
The Central African nation has so far acquired Sinopharm and AstraZeneca vaccines for its immunisation campaign.
Healthcare workers last week said they were reluctant to take the coronavirus vaccines donated by China because they doubt the drug’s efficacy, Voice of America news reported.
Some healthcare workers are skeptical the Sinopharm vaccine is effective.
After the arrival of the vaccine, a nurse at the Messassi government hospital in Yaounde said the government should have given more time for trials to be made to see if the side effects on Cameroonians are bearable or not.
“What is the need rushing with a vaccine to Cameroon on Sunday and asking health workers to be vaccinated immediately? I prefer other preventive methods like washing of hands with soap and water, wearing face masks, social distancing and avoiding overcrowded places.”
According to the latest figures, Cameroon has recorded 64,809 Covid-19 cases, 35,261 recoveries and 939 deaths since the first case was recorded in March last year.
– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Devereaux Morkel
