Religious sisters in the West African nation of more than 31 million people have been working hard to debunk COVID-19 vaccine myths. But misinformation is rampant, ranging from denial that the virus exists to various false side effects.

Elijah Nayoo received his first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at Mater Ecclesiae Hospital in Akrofu, run by the Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church.

Previously, Nayoo believed that the vaccine was unsafe and had severe side effects on human bodies. He told Global Sisters Report he vowed never to take 'the jab' as it is referred to in many African countries.

"I couldn't believe that one day I would receive the COVID-19 vaccine because I have always had a negative perception about the vaccines," said the 36-year-old father of two who works as an accountant in Accra. Nevertheless, he got his first dose at the end of January.

According to the Coronavirus Resource Centre at Johns Hopkins University, as of February 16, just over 15% of the country's population was fully vaccinated.

"I am thankful to the sisters for their key intervention toward containing the pandemic", said Nayoo.

He explained that, through the education he received from the sisters, he has been able to speak to his family members and friends to take their jabs. "The campaign messages changed my mind, and that of other people, to avail themselves of the vaccine".

Sister Lucy Hometowu, superior general of the Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church, said vaccine myths in Ghana and other African countries had led many citizens to forego vaccinations. This is despite virus cases and deaths rising fast in the continent amid a fourth wave of infections.

"We have undertaken educative campaigns to demystify the myth surrounding the vaccines," said Hometowu who is also an obstetrician and gynaecologist.

The effort to educate the public about COVID-19 vaccinations by Catholic sisters in Ghana started at the same time in Kenya, Uganda and Zambia. The programme has since been expanded to other countries, including India, Tanzania and Congo.

Sources

Crux Now

Francis also denounced fake news about COVID-19 and vaccines on Jan 28, but he also urged that people who believe such mistruths are helped to understand real scientific facts.

"We can hardly fail to see that these days, in addition to the pandemic, an ‘infodemic' is spreading: a distortion of reality based on fear, which in our global society leads to an explosion of commentary on falsified if not invented news," Francis said.

Francis has been a consistent proponent of COVID-19 vaccines and advocated for their equitable distribution. He said that "to be properly informed, to be helped to understand situations based on scientific data and not fake news, is a human right."

His remarks came during a meeting with representatives of Catholic Factchecking - a consortium of various Catholic media outlets launched in March 2021 seeking to counter misleading claims about COVID-19 vaccines.

"Pope Francis, the Holy See and bishops' conferences from around the world have spoken out about the importance to get vaccinated to respect not only one's own life, but also that of others," the group states on its website.

Francis was happy to give the group his seal of approval.

"At a time when we are feeling the effects of the pandemic and of divisions in society, the fact that you are networking as Christian communicators is itself sending a message," he said.

"Correct information must be ensured above all to those who are less equipped, to the weakest and to those who are most vulnerable," the pope continued.

Francis asked for a merciful, missionary approach to those who fall prey to misinformation, so they can be helped to understand the truth.

"Fake news has to be refuted, but individual persons must always be respected, for they believe it often without full awareness or responsibility," he said.

"Reality is always more complex than we think. We must respect the doubts, the concerns and the questions that people raise, seeking to accompany them without ever dismissing them."

Sources

Religion News Service

National Catholic Reporter

Bishop James Foley this morning said that people within his church were "campaigning against vaccination on all sorts of ill-founded prejudice".

Among the misinformation Bishop Foley said he had received were claims coronavirus vaccines contained cells from unborn fetuses — erroneous information he said he had no time for.

"In almost 30 years in this position, I've never encountered such divisiveness and, dare I say, ignorance," Bishop Foley said.

"I'm really concluding that I'm wasting my time talking to them and they're wasting their time talking to me."

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