The Senior Divisional Officer for Meme, Ntou’ou Ndong Chamberlin has dispelled rumours circulating on the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine in schools across the division.

Ntou’ou Ndong Chamberlin, Meme SDO

His articulation is contained in a release dated Friday, February 19 2021. 

According to the release, the Senior Administrator discloses that there have been commotions in some schools in Kumba due to fake news from unknown individuals claiming that students are being vaccinated against COVID-19. 

The “news has created general panic and fear amongst parents and students leading to the withdrawal of children from school,” the release partly reads.
It furthers that three students jumped from a story-building and seriously injured. The students are said to be receiving treatment at the Kumba District Hospital.

The SDO frowns at the propagators of the fake news as no vaccine has been authorised by the government of Cameroon to be administered to students. While calling on parents to remain calm and to continue sending their children to school, he assures the public that the propagators of the fake news will be severally sanctioned. 

COVID-19 Vaccine Safety and Effectiveness
Although cross sections of Cameroonians are sceptical on COVID-19 vaccine safety and effectiveness, the Minister of Public Health, Dr Manaouda Malachie had described the vaccine as a strong solution against COVID-19. 

This was during an online meeting with CEMAC Health Experts on Tuesday, January 19, 2020.
During the meeting, the Executive Secretary of the Organ that Coordinates the fight against endemic diseases in the Central African Sub Region, L’OCEAC, Manuel Nso Obiang Ada, asserts that the vaccine would soon reach CEMAC Regions including Cameroon. 

“We think in six months or by the end of the year we will have at least 20% of the vaccines we need for the sub-region,” Manuel Said.

In a recent tweet dated February 20, 2021, Dr Manaouda discloses that Cameroon has set up a Vaccination Rollout Plan against COVID-19.
However, he emphasised the need for Cameroonians to implement the preventive measures set up by the government due to rising cases of COVID-19 in the nations. 

These measures include the systematic wearing of face mask in public places, constant washing of hands with clean flowing water and the maintenance of social distances.

COVID-19 statistics in the nation as at the time of this report stands at 33,749 confirmed cases, 523 deaths, 31,362 recoveries.