Omo, we do hear a lot of things when it comes to vaccination, like there is this former neighbor of my mom, she once told us that the reason her son got crippled was because of the vaccine she took him to take, now I cannot remember the name of the vaccine she said he took but that time when she said it , I just sat down and was like, ahn ahn.... “How will injection cripple a child?” see I did not even understand where that was coming from, but you know how African mothers read meaning into everything that happens?.
And so after that incident, she just stopped going to the health center entirely, like stopped completely,she stopped taking the child there and started going from church to church, I am not even joking o, And also don’t get me wrong , see I do believe in prayers like so much, like alot , but sometimes then I felt her approach might have made things worse for the child, because she was not taking him to the proper place he needed
It was much later that I found out that the child had one sickness that actually causes children to get crippled, and that it wasn't detected when she was pregnant with him and also it wasnt detected at where she gave birth , because she had given birth at a midwife home, I can’t remember the name of the illness now, but the way she neglected medical attention, stopped his medication and kept relying on “healing water” and special anointing from all the churches she visited, it just did not help the matter at all.
And so the child’s condition got worse, and sadly, she lost him, after a while , Omo , It was heartbreaking because, in the beginning, it looked like something that could have been managed, but it is just one of those moments where you realize how far misinformation can go when fear is involved you get?.
For me, I seriously do believe in vaccines, I mean, I do, And I say this boldly because even my mom made sure we knew the importance of it, especially when we had our own kids, She did not even let us to slack at all. She always made sure to follow up like a health worker, she made sure we attend every appointment and even those classes that were hosted at the health center. Even when you say you are tired or you have something else to do, she will remind you that it is your child’s life we are talking about, and honestly, she is right.
Vaccination is important , no matter the many talks that has come around it, and I mean very important, And there is no two ways about it, I know there are people who do not believe in it, and well everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I have seen what not getting the right vaccine on time can do, and trust me, it is not something anyone wants to even joke with at all
Also let's talk about some of the crazy theories I have heard too, like one aunty in my compound once said that vaccines are part of “population control plans.” That they want to reduce the number of Africans on earth ,Omo , I just stared at her that day and said, “Aunty please rest.” Because how does something meant to protect us become something for killing? Asin how?
Sometimes like this , it is even fear of side effects that makes people run away from it, but everything in life has small risk now, even the paracetamol has side effects, It does not mean you will not use it when you need it.
So yeah...... for me, I take vaccines seriously, and I do think that it is high time more people did too. Let's forget the stories and misinformation, it is better to ask questions, yes. But don’t just throw it all away because of fear or one bad experience, you know that small protection might just be the thing that saves a life.
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