Several expectant mothers in Mpatta sub-county have decided to shun covid19 vaccination due to fears that they may have miscarriages.
The decision is worrying health workers and village health heams-VHTs in the area who have tried hard to extend the vaccines to them since it is their right to health care.
Jesca Nalubuga, a VHT at Mpatta Sub county, says pregnant women from 1-4 months, boycott going for the vaccine alleging misconceptions of miscarriage.
Nalubuga reveals that some women claim that vaccine might be poisonous and damage their ovaries besides their newborn babies’ brains.
The government of Uganda embarked on a mass vaccination exercise to minimize on the negative effects of this pandemic disease.
Mukono District Health Officer, Dr. Stephen Mulindwa says that all these are assertions originating from misinformation within the community of Mpatta.
He advises all pregnant women to go for the vaccine for the betterment of their life and the life of their babies.
Dr. Mulindwa says that in each and every vaccination center there’s a technical person who always gives advice to pregnant women on which vaccine to take.
“Research shows that the vaccine is safe for pregnant women. The side effects are expected but they are not as fatal as they are being exaggerated in communities and they can be managed.” Mulindwa says.
According to the research by Prof. Jean Nachaga, an Epidemiologist and Infectious disease expert from the University of Pittsburgh (US) to Journalist during a cross-border media dialogue via zoom conducted by African Forum for Research and Education in Health (AFRE Health), pregnant women with Covid-19 are five times more likely to die from the disease than their counterparts who don’t have the disease.
Her study was carried out in Countries; Uganda, Kenya and Ghana in 22 hospitals between March 1, up to March 31, 2020.
Sumaya Labila Musoke, the programs officer in charge of the Rights to Health Initiative for Social and Economic Rights, encourages all citizens to fully participate in the vaccination program because it is also their right and duty to participate in government programs.
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