Why I won’t take the Covid-19 vaccine with reporters today – Manasseh Azure writes | Features

Last night I received an invitation from an executive of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to come for the Covid-19 vaccination today at the Ghana International Press Center.

I asked further questions and was told that 800 doses of vaccine supplied to Ghana as part of the Covax initiative had been allocated to reporters.

I was excited about the opportunity. I never bought into savage conspiracy theories. I was looking forward to the opportunity to get the vaccine. And here is one!

After some thought, I decided to decline the invitation, so I communicated it to the GJA executive and gave my reason.

I am relatively young and have no known underlying health problems. I know that many active and retired journalists are old. I also know journalists who are young but have underlying health issues that make them more vulnerable to the vagaries of Covid-19.

With the limited doses available, I don’t think it’s fair to go get the vaccine when those who need it more than me may not get the chance.

Ghana has a population of around 30 million people. We have taken delivery of 600,000 doses of the Covax Arrangement. And if each person is to receive two doses of the vaccine, that means we will cover 300,000 people. (I want to be corrected).

I can’t wait to receive this vaccine to protect myself, my family and those with whom I come in contact.

But I know there are a lot of people out there – in this case, a lot of journalists – who need it more than I do.

I’ll wait.