I still remember the first time I heard someone say, “Vaccines are a government plot to control people’s minds.” I was about 15, sitting outside our house with some older neighbours, when one aunty said it with so much conviction, you'd think she had proof hidden under her pillow. At the time, I laughed. I thought she was joking. But as I got older, I started to hear more and more people say similar things only this time, they were dead serious.
Let’s be honest, vaccinations come with a lot of noise. Some people believe in them completely, while others think it’s a fast-track route to illness, infertility, or worse, spiritual manipulation. And somewhere in between, there’s the rest of us confused, cautious, but still trying to make informed decisions.
Growing up, I took all the necessary vaccines. Polio, tetanus, yellow fever, you name it. My mum never joked with them. She was always first at the clinic when those immunisation rounds came up. To her, it was part of taking care of us, no questions asked. But then the pandemic came, and everything changed. COVID-19 brought out the loudest conspiracy theorists I had ever seen in my life.
From “the vaccine will make you magnetic,” to “they want to inject microchips in Africans,” to “people who take it won’t live more than 5 years.” I even heard someone say, “It’s not even COVID killing people, it’s the vaccine!” The fear-mongering was wild. The internet was boiling. People were quoting videos, WhatsApp voice notes, even pastors, all saying the same thing “Don’t take that injection.”
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And you know what? I started to hesitate too.
Not because I believed all of them, but because the fear was loud. Fear has a way of making even the most logical mind shake. I was scared that maybe, just maybe, something might go wrong. But then I took a step back and asked myself: How many of the people spreading these rumours are actually scientists? How many of them even understand how vaccines work?
I went back to research, I spoke to a family friend who is a doctor, and I realised something simple: Vaccines aren’t perfect, but they’re not poison either. They’ve saved more lives than they’ve harmed. People don’t die from vaccines, they die from diseases that could have been prevented if they were vaccinated. History proves that. Science proves that.
I eventually got vaccinated. Twice. And I’m still here. No microchip. No spiritual attack. No “magnetic” anything. I just had sore arms and maybe a day of feeling tired, and that was it.
I understand the fear. I really do. Especially when the systems meant to protect us haven’t always been trustworthy. But choosing fear over facts isn’t wisdom. It’s just fear, plain and simple. And that’s dangerous.
It’s not that we shouldn’t ask questions we should. But if your “facts” are coming from WhatsApp broadcasts or TikTok conspiracy threads, you’re already standing on shaky ground.
So yes, I do take vaccinations seriously. Not because I’m trying to follow the crowd, but because I’ve seen what happens when we ignore them. I’ve seen children suffer from preventable illnesses. I’ve seen misinformation ruin people’s health. And I’ve seen how a simple injection can protect you, your family, and your community.
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To anyone still unsure or scared, I get it. Truly, I do. But don’t let fear make your decision for you. Ask questions, talk to real health professionals, not the loudest person on your Facebook feed. Protect yourself, and the people around you.
Vaccines aren't perfect. But it is best to take them.