The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has demanded that planned COVID-19 vaccination should begin with President Muhammadu Buhari and other government officials.
This came just as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, advised Christian leaders not to take COVID-19 conspiracy theorists seriously.
CAN also state the need for officials to be vaccinated publicly to encourage citizens on the validity of the vaccine.
The association made the demands on Wednesday as it commended the President for signing COVID-19 Health Protection Regulations Bill 2021.
CAN President, Rev Dr. Samson Ayokunle, spoke at a meeting organised by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) to sensitise Christian Religious leaders on COVID-19 vaccine in Abuja.
He noted that there had been conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 vaccines and that the fears would be dispelled if officials take the vaccination first.
He said, “We have to do vaccination by example, all the people in authority must do their vaccination publicly under the watch of national television stations like Channels and AIT. Don’t do it in the secret, don’t go to Aso Rock and do it, we want to see you on Channels, AIT, it is after you have got your own that I will get it. When people see that we have done it like that, the fear factor will be removed and we will get that breakthrough we are looking for. A lot of publicity campaigns have to be done through the churches, mosques and markets before the introduction of the vaccine to disabuse the minds of our people and to make them accept the vaccines.”
He encouraged Christian leaders to obey all protocols and warned reckless confidence as being shown by some faith leaders, who dismissed the existence of the virus.
