Nagham Mohammed had an interesting experience of Covid-19 inoculation. When she went to a health outlet to receive the first dose despite all rumors among the public, she heard one of the staff whispering to a colleague that he is not confident how effective and successful these vaccines are so he decided not to take it.
Nagham was reluctant but the chat she heard pushed her forward and finally determined to take the vaccine.
"I was suspicious but finally encouraged myself to do the right thing," she told KirkukNow. "I was very sad because that is really naïf to hear medical staff saying that."
"I was very sad because that is really naïf to hear medical staff saying that."
Despite all the negative messages she received about vaccination, she went on.
Mosul, the center of Nineveh province, has registered a low turnout for vaccination Iraq joined last March. So far only 20,000 people were vaccinated in the 4million population province.
Iraqi ministry of health has initiated an electronic platform for people to register applications for vaccination.
An SMS by the platform confirms date and place of vaccination for applicants.
Mosul April 20, 2021- A resident of Mosul receiving a Covid-19 jab. Photo by Nineveh Health Office.
Local health official defy rumors about the side effects of the vaccination and hope the turnout is getting higher gradually.
Dr. Ibrahim Farqad works at al-Salam General Hospital in Mosul. He rejects serious side effects following vaccination in the future. Farqad confirms he was one of the first people who filed application to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.
Farqad assured no serious side effects reported during the last two months of vaccination in Nineveh.
No serious side effects reported during the last two months of vaccination in Nineveh.
His experience with infection cases has pushed him forward to take the first jab.
"The side effects differ from a person to another. Usually it is minor to mild and in few cases it is serious."
Headache, fever, and laziness are normal and it depends on body immunity of the person.
Tens of thousands of positive cases have been registered in Nineveh and about 1,000 deaths reported. Iraq has registered 1.1 million cases since February 202 while the deaths hit 15,800.
Dr. Oudai Abadi, spokesperson for Nineveh Crisis Cell, said they have received vaccines of AstraZeneca, Pfzier Biontech and Sionpharm.
"No producer is better than the other. Side effects are now clear to people and proved not serious and worrisome. If there might be future side effects, it is still vague and have not been proven yet," Abadi said.
He blamed social media platforms for discouraging people by circulation of misinformation and rumors about the side effects.
Side effects are now clear to people and proved not serious and worrisome.
Abadi was confident that turnout for vaccination will be higher following a campaign by public figures taking the vaccines like the governor of Nineveh and senior military commanders, a message of confidence for the people of Nineveh.
He assured there is no plan for compulsory vaccination and the pople gradually understand the need for vaccination such as travelling abroad wich required vaccination card.
Nagham has called her followers on social media following the vaccination, to go for it and protect themselves, their families and the community of the covid-19 pandemic which caused human and material losses.
