PERCEPTION OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN OYO METROPOLIS OF COVID-19 VACCINATION

Abstract

The Nigerian government launched the AstraZeneca brand of Coronavirus Vaccine, with the President, Vice-President, members of Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 (PTF) as well as the medical and health workers being the first to be vaccinated. State governors and their cabinet members have also been vaccinated in order to boost the confidence of the public on Coivid-19 vaccine. Yet, this has not resulted in the change of attitude of many Nigerians towards Covid-19 vaccination. The reason for the public’s hesitance towards the Covid-19 vaccine can be linked to the controversies around the world, particularly the suspension of the vaccine by the European Union and France on the claim that it causes blood clot in the brain, modification of DNA, among other unsubstantiated claims. A survey of religious leaders in Oyo metropolis reveals that the failure of the government to deliver good governance, resulted in lack of faith and trust in the leaders’ appeal for people to accept vaccination. The failure of the government to be accountable to the citizens, as well as seemly cozy relationship between the media and the government compounded the publics mistrust on public information on Covid—19.  Also, the continuous doubts of the Kogi State government and his refusal to accept the vaccine: as well as the failure of the Federal Government to prevail on the Kogi State government over its negative campaign against vaccination, all contributed to vaccine hesitancy in Nigeria. This paper submits that the government at all levels in Nigeria needs to rebuild public trust in order to change public attitude towards public information at a time of health emergency such as Covid-19 pandemic