Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, there have been widely held public misconceptions by some sections of Nigerians that the deadly virus is mainly targeting the country’s elite, particularly politicians.
Despite series of medical advisories that the life-threatening respiratory illness could hit the poor and indeed anybody who contracts the virus, many Nigerians remain indifferent to the observance of none pharmaceutical preventive protocols.
Although the figures of infected Nigerians and the number of casualties may have drastically dropped in the past few months, but the latest variants of the Covid-19 virus and the high infectious and death rates being recorded in India, Brazil, among other countries in the past weeks, is putting Health authorities in Nigeria on the edge.
On Tuesday, the Nigerian government announced a new phase of health protective guidelines, including the shutting down of bars, clubs as well as renewed directives on the strict observance of none pharmaceutical protocols, such as the compulsory use of face masks, washing of hands with soap and running water, social distancing and others.
But, do Nigerians really care and comply with these self protective precautionary measures?
The introduction of the use of vaccination by the global health community became expedient in order to reduce the rate of the infections across the world.
However, so many Nigerians still do not believe in the efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Experts said Covid-19 vaccines are safe and getting vaccinated will help protect recipients against developing severe Covid-19 disease and attack.
Although some people who take the jab may experience some mild side effects, which are signs that one’s body is building protection, medical experts said that there is nothing to worry about.
Unfortunately, the none observance of the Covid-19 preventive protocols by most Nigerians in recent times is on the increase, facemasks have now turned to chin masks while large gatherings without observing physical distancing, have returned in public places and worship centres.
The level of public mistrust is such high, that those who still put on facemasks in public places and gatherings, are mocked and socially stigmatized.
Obviously, many people no longer believe that Coronavirus is still spreading and a new more deadly variant is rampaging several countries of the world.
Experts observed that misconceptions about the disease and the vaccine, are the major reasons people are reluctant to get vaccinated.
While public mistrust and reluctance to take the Covid-19 vaccine could be blamed on fake news and misleading conceptions Nigerian government’s early handling of information on the virus, others hold strong views that the pandemic is a hoax.
However, some others tell a different story.
Now that the Nigerian society is seriously being threatened again with a possible Covid-19 socio-economic lockdown, there is the need for collective efforts to check a spike in the spread, especially of the newest variant of the deadly virus.
