Journalists in Niger state have been trained on how to address the misinformation and disinformation resulting in rumours and misconceptions on the COVID-19 vaccines.
They were trained at a one day workshop tagged ‘Vaccines Reporting’ was organized for Journalists by the Technology and Development Research Network (TEDREN) FUT Minna and Media Mentors Network in Minna, Niger state on Wednesday, 21st April.
The Coordinator of the Technology a d Development Research Network (TEDREN), Federal University of Technology, Minna, Professor Nicholas Iwokwagh and Data/Investigative Journalist of The Nation Newspaper, Justina Asishana facilitated the programme while the Niger state Immunization Officer, Mr Abubakar Usman Kpantu gave a keynote Lecture about the state of the COVID-19 vaccine in Niger state.
In his welcome address, the TEDREN Coordinator, Professor Nicholas Iwokwagh said the workshop was organized to equip journalists and media professionals in the state with the knowledge and skills required to report vaccines accurately.
He said that the workshop would discuss the practical and positive steps that journalists and media practitioners can take in reporting vaccines to play their roles effectively and efficiently.
Giving his lecture on the ‘Essentials of vaccine reporting’, Iwokwagh discussed the WHO guidelines on how to report vaccines stressing that the media has, become powerful resources that affect and control disease outcomes in several ways.
He pointed out that Journalists need to be up and doing in meeting the information needs of their audiences, adding that only the media can address the disinformation and misinformation that is gradually following the wake of the COVID-19 vaccines.
“We need your help because your job is critical to maintaining vaccine confidence in Niger State. To this end, it is therefore important to understand the dynamics of reporting vaccines to keep society well informed, so that it will avoid panic and the public will be in a position to make informed decisions”, Iwokwagh stated.
The Niger state Immunization Officer, Mr Abubakar Usman Kpantu who spoke on the state, successes and challenges of the COVID-19 vaccine in the state noted that the distrust regarding the COVID-19 vaccine in the state is still high.
He pointed out that the major concerns around the vaccine include vaccine safety, rapid vaccine development, prioritization of target population, cold chain capacity and equity in vaccine distribution.
Kpantu stated that the media is needed to build community trust and confidence in the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine and to educate the public about the phases of the vaccines and their target beneficiaries.
“There is little or lack of awareness on the need for vaccination and stigmatization on the safety of the vaccine. There is a need for more awareness creation on the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“We did not collect the vaccine to keep it in the state, we collected it for use and the people, especially the frontline workers need to know that there is a vaccine for them to take. To do that, we need you, the media. You are the one that will help us to sell the commodity. We need more reportage about COVID-19 vaccine in the state”, he stated.
The last and final presentation was made by Data/Investigative Journalist of The Nation Newspaper, Justina Asishana who took the participants on ‘Communicating Facts About Vaccines’.
Asishana who is also the Coordinator, Media Mentors Network observed that the public is hesitant to the COVID-19 vaccine adding that it is the job of the Journalists to clear the grey areas about the vaccine and further educate the public about it.
She observed that Journalists can tackle the reluctance of people towards vaccine by reporting facts and figures about the effectiveness of the vaccines.
Asishana then gave various tips on Communicating Facts about Vaccines which include use of appropriate imagery, using plain language to explain scientific terms, talking to researchers and academics for reports, ensure all voices are balanced in the stories, being up to date about current happenings on issues surrounding COVID-19 and the vaccines.
During the workshops, the participants asked a lot of questions about the COVID-19 vaccines and how the media can help in educating the public about them.
One of the participants, Emmanuel Adams asked about how the media can correct the public notion that the COVID-19 vaccine is not a world depopulation agenda, while Zainab Kodo asked how the people in the hard to reach communities will be able to get access to the vaccine.
The Participants expressed their willingness to begin adequate vaccines reportage in the state while noting that the gap in vaccines reporting was due to the gap created by the Ministry of Health.
They said they are willing to go out of their way in reporting issues around it because it is their responsibility to their audience.
The TEDREN Coordinator announced a mini-grant for the first two participants who will file a report on issues surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine in the state.
The participants were awarded certificates at the end of the workshop.
