Health experts have called for increased public awareness and responsible communication on vaccines and immunisation, stressing the need to combat misinformation and promote evidence-based health decisions.
This was the thrust of the webinar titled: “Immunisation Truth: Separating Fact From Fiction”, organised by Wuraisgold Charity Foundation yesterday. The virtual session attracted health advocates, professionals and members of the public seeking clarity on vaccine-related myths and realities.
Moderated by Dr Biodun Oguniyi, the webinar featured insightful presentations from Dr Olayinka Stephen Ilesanmi, a public health expert and Mr Sunday Oko, a media and social health advocate.
Dr Olayinka began by addressing widespread immunisation myths, especially concerning vaccine safety and side effects. He explained that while vaccines, like any medical intervention, may cause minor reactions such as swelling or fever, these are generally mild and manageable. In rare cases, he noted severe allergic reactions known as anaphylaxis may occur but are closely monitored and addressed within medical frameworks.
Vaccines undergo rigorous development processes that span 10 to 15 years and involve layers of testing, evaluation, and approval by global health bodies such as the World Health Organization, WHO, the US Food and Drug Administration, FDA, and other regulatory agencies. Dr Olayinka emphasised the importance of reporting adverse reactions to the nearest healthcare centre for prompt investigation and management.
He highlighted the critical role of stakeholders, governments, healthcare providers and civil society in promoting vaccine acceptance. He added that Vaccines save lives, ensuring transparency, accountability, and continued evaluation makes them even safer.
In his remarks, Sunday Oko addressed the impact of misinformation and disinformation, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that the flood of unverified claims on social media platforms led to confusion and resistance among the public.
He said there was a pressing need for public health advocates to lead with facts, not fear. Oko said organisations like the Wuraisgold Charity Foundation were raising awareness using tools like infographics, verified health content, and strategic hashtags to promote the truth.
He advocated for social listening and monitoring public narratives to counter misinformation effectively and encouraged participants to take social responsibility by sharing positive and verified health stories.
The session concluded with a call to action for improved health literacy, responsible information sharing, and the need to document and report vaccine-related issues appropriately rather than amplify unfounded claims.
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