Our Vaccination Experience By Osun Frontline Workers

 

By Ismaeel Uthman

SOME frontline workers in the State of Osun have shared their experience after receiving COVID-19 vaccination.

The State Government had received 64,240 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from the Federal Government on March 05.

Governor Gboyega Oyetola was the first to take the jab in the state.

Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu, last week said only frontline workers, which include journalists, health workers and security personnel and some strategic leaders would be vaccinated in the first phase of the vaccination exercise. 

However, there has been disinformation about safety and effectiveness of the vaccines aimed at dissuading the populace from taking it. 

The frontline workers, in separate interviews with OSUN DEFENDER, revealed that though they experienced some side effects, it had not in any way incapacitated them as being rumoured.

Mr. Joshua Dada, a correspondent with Leadership Newspaper, said he felt severe pains in his joints, had slight fever and difficulty in breathing.

Dada said: “Ordinarily, I was not that keen in taking the vaccine but we were at the residence of the Acting Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun, when the vaccines were brought to him on March 15. The last time I was injected was in 1978. I didn’t feel anything immediately I took the vaccine. 

“But I was told I could have a minor fever and I should ensure I took paracetamol. I didn’t feel anything all through the day but when it was about 12am, it was as if I had been beaten with a baton in all my joints, the pain was severe, that was not all, I also felt feverish.

“I could not sleep. Like others, I didn’t feel headache. I was unable to sleep until 5am. After I woke up, I had difficulty in breathing. I had an assignment for that morning, so I went to take my bath and all the pains were gone. My relations now see me as an experiment they are waiting to see if something happens to me in the next six months before they can go for theirs. Nothing will happen to me.”

Asked if he would be willing to take the second dose with what he had experienced, Dada said, “Since I had taken the first, I won’t mind what side effects the second dose would have.”

He said the vaccine has no effect on sexual performance as being rumoured.

The journalist said, “There is nothing I was doing that I couldn’t do since I received the first jab of the vaccine. It has not affected me sexually, it has not affected how I go about my work among others.”

Also, a medical doctor, Dr. Samuel Abolaji, said he experienced headache and body pains which began few hours after he received the vaccine.

Abolaji said: “Getting the vaccine wasn’t stressful for me. My experience wasn’t different from what was published about the side effect. I had headache and body pains which in this case was moderately severe than usual for me. It started few hours after the jab and lasted up to 24 hours post vaccination. 

“It became more the following day.  I had to use pain reliever. I had no fear because as a medical practitioner, I understand perfectly that all medications including vaccine have side effects or manifestations. 

“Nigerians should drop their fear and protect themselves and others by getting vaccinated. No one has died of the vaccine in Nigeria yet. If it was meant to kill, we would have been receiving the news of death from those who have taken it, the health workers especially.

Stating his experience also, Pa Samson Raji, an elderly person said: “The side effects differ. I have had people feeling headache and pain, that is not for me.  After taking the vaccine, I didn’t feel any pain, but I got hungry immediately and I looked for something to eat. After waking up the second day, I felt this same way and I ate too”. 

Another health worker, Mrs. Omotunde Euience, said she asked around from those who previously received the vaccine which helped her prepare for the side effects.

She said, “I felt pain at the actual place where I was injected for two days and I also had slight headache. I took paracetamol and I was relieved. I had asked my colleagues who took the vaccine before me how they felt, the way it reacted in their body and what they did to subdue it.  This, I would say, prepared me for any side effect. People should not nurture fear; they can take parcetamol after receiving the jab.”