Thread by @MasukaMutenda

Today my housekeeper asked for a day off next week to go & #GetVaccinated. I told her it takes 5 minutes & that I would drive her to the nearest health centre myself so that she could get the shot. She said yes please & so we headed to Chilenje Level 1 Hospital

We got there around 14:30 & found zero people in the queue. They gave “us” three options: Astra-Zeneca, SinoPharm, or J&J. Naturally, she opted for the one-shot J&J.
I think we’re underselling the appeal of a single shot here.

I asked her why she was only now getting vaxxed and she said she was scared of taking it & dying. I asked why would you think the vaccine would kill you? She said because of all the people who were dying after getting the vaccine.😳I said, but they died because they had Covid

At the hospital she was so indignant when the nurse said she needed to avoid alcohol for 3 days. I told her she’s not saying you look like a drunkard, they have to say that to everyone, just in case.😆 She was genuinely offended. Lol

I have to say the @mohzambia and @ZMPublicHealth have really dropped the ball on countering myths and misconceptions and confronting misinformation and people’s genuine fears. It’s not enough to say #GetVaccinated, we must do more to explain why.

The other issue is the basics of how & where to get it done. For example vaccination working hours. It’s not clearly stated (at least I haven’t encountered it) that they don’t work weekends & it’s not 8–7. Also vaccination sites on website is incomplete

For Lusaka the website says Chawama, Chilenje, Chelstone, Kanyama, Matero. But you can also go to Bauleni, UTH & more, not even counting the private hospitals, but they’re all not on the list. I got the link from this post on the MoH Facebook page👇🏾

facebook.com/12991799051620…

The FB post links to this web page. Scroll to Lusaka province and scroll again to Lusaka district, et voila!
moh.gov.zm/?page_id=6553
I made some calls to confirm she would bounce if she went on the weekend, so that’s how we ended up at Chilenje Hospital.

Last thing is she thought she needed ID. I told her you just need to know your details. She obviously doesn’t move with her NRC so was surprised when I offered to take her right there and then. Let’s remove all doubt with vaccination FAQs etc

This morning she came to work and said there were no side effects if any kind so far. She just felt normal.