COVID-19: Why govt should not make vaccination compulsory for citizens, says ex-LUTH CMD

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4 years ago

A global figure in the field of public health and former Chief Medical Director of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Idi Araba, Prof Akin Osibogun has said it is not necessary for government or institutions at any level in Nigeria to make COVID-19 vaccination compulsory for people.

He said Nigeria is not ripe to come up with such a policy (even if it would be at all in future) simply because the availability of the vaccines and access is still very limited in the country.

Osibogun gave this position on Tuesday as a keynote speaker at the third research fair of the Lagos State University (LASU) Ojo.

Three LASU scholars, who won the university’s N2.5 million research grants, namely, Prof Benjamin Aribisala, Dr Modupe Akinyinka and Dr Tolulase Yemitan, showcased at the fair their respective research projects as contributions to solving the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria and globally.

Speaking on “Prevention is better than a cure: Lessons from COVID-19 pandemic,” Prof Osibogun said while he would encourage Nigerians who are eligible for vaccines to without hesitation to get vaccinated once vaccines are available, the directive should not be a mandatory policy either by the government or any other institution for reason already given.

He commended the Lagos State government’s efforts both in prevention and treatment of the virus since it had broken out in the state, saying the effort is noticeable more than that of any other state of the federation, urging it to start preparing for the likely fourth wave of the spread.

He said COVID-19 vaccines so far available globally are safe and effective to boost body immune system to suppress complications irrespective of variants of the virus.

“But you must know that vaccine does not prevent one from getting infected or re-infected of the virus, it only reduces chances of infection to result to complications,” he explained.

He said that was why adherence to all non-pharmaceutical protocols such as wearing of nose masks and keeping of social distancing in public, regular hand washing, avoiding of crowded gatherings and so forth remains an effective way to prevent the spread of the virus among people.

Osibogun, who pointed out that the cost implications of the COVID-19 pandemic to people and the country as a whole in terms of economic loss and social life are not only huge but killing, urging Nigerians to stay safe.

According to him, it’s better to breathe through a nose mask than to breathe through a ventilator.

In their separate remarks, the duo of Chairman of Governing Council of LASU, Sir David Sunmoni and the acting Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Oyedamola Oke, said the direction of this year’s research fair by the university is apt and timely based on the current realities that COVID-19 has put both humans and material resources globally.

They said even though some achievements have been recorded to get the country out of the pandemic and also mitigate its effects, more grounds are still needed to be covered to arrive at the desirable destination.

According to the pro-chancellor, there are many scientific, medical, social and societal questions concerning the virus that are left unanswered and several opportunities left unexplored, hence the essence of the focus of the year’s research fair.

The vice-chancellor on his part said LASU would continue to strive harder in contributing to solving societal problems through quality research and at the same time produce graduates for global market and also engage in reasonable community service.

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