The government this week launched yet another Covid-19 vaccination drive targeting some 300,000 people over the coming weeks. According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, more than 460,000 people have so far been fully vaccinated, with officials hoping that the country will be able to inoculate at least 60 per cent of the population by end of 2022. Like other developing countries, Rwanda’s vaccination plan was severely affected by vaccine nationalism and hoarding by rich nations, some of which purchased far more than they needed. This only worsened an already bad situation, especially in the wake of the emergence of the deadly Delta variant, which is more contagious than earlier Covid variants. Thankfully, vaccines have begun to arrive again – albeit in small volumes – allowing the Rwandan government to roll out another vaccination effort nationwide. It is an encouraging development as effective vaccines have proven to be the surest way out of this pandemic. Now, historically, vaccine adherence in Rwanda has been high, and this has generally been the case as far as Covid is concerned. This is despite the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation around the vaccines and countless conspiracy theories that have been ‘manufactured’ and spread like wildfire thanks to social media. While the overwhelming majority of citizens have been looking forward to the day they’d be vaccinated against the virus, there are isolated cases of misguided people who are either sceptical due to misleading information around the vaccines or misplaced faith. Globally, vaccine hesitancy has undermined Covid vaccine rollout; in some countries it’s been an epidemic in itself. This presents a major challenge in efforts to beat the pandemic and it should be dealt with as a matter of urgency. Evidence has shown that vaccinated people, even the elderly and other highly vulnerable persons, are less likely to contract Covid and even when they do chances of getting admitted to hospital or getting sick are so minimal. The truth is that Covid vaccines work and save lives. This is the single most important tool in the fight against the pandemic and everyone should seize the opportunity to get vaccinated with both hands. Please go and get jabbed when it’s your turn.
