Freelance investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has said contrary to the schedule of government for some selected journalists to be vaccinated today, he is declining that offer because he believes there are journalists who perhaps urgently need the vaccine for the time being than him.
Manasseh Azure who resigned from One of Ghana’s top private media brands, Multimedia Group in August 2019 took to Facebook to share make his views known.
In the post of why he will not take the vaccine with other colleague journalists, He made reference to retired journalists whom many have underlying medical conditions to be on the prioritized list, he also pointed out to some of his young colleague who may not have the privileges he has to be those who should benefit from the vaccine who is currently in short supply.
He said this on Facebook Tuesday 2nd March 2021.
Below is how he captured it:
WHY I WON’T TAKE THE VACCINE WITH JOURNALISTS TODAY
Last night, I received an invitation from an executive of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to come for the Covid-19 vaccination today at the Ghana International Press Centre.
I asked further questions and I was told that 800 doses of the vaccine provided to Ghana through the Covax initiative have been allocated to journalists.
I was excited about the opportunity. I have never bought into the wild conspiracy theories. I have been looking forward to the opportunity to get vaccinated. And here was one!
On second thought, however, I decided to decline the invitation so I communicated it to the GJA executive and gave my reason.
I’m relatively young and do not have any known underlying health condition. I know many active or retired journalists are old. I also know journalists who are young but have underlying health conditions that make them more susceptible to the vagaries of Covid-19.
With the limited doses available, I don’t think it is right to go and get the jab while those who need it more than I may not have the opportunity.
Ghana has a population of about 30 million. We took delivery of 600,000 doses from the Covax arrangement. And if each person is to get two doses of the vaccine, then it means we will cover 300,000 people. (I stand to be corrected).
I’m eager to get this vaccine to protect myself, my family, and those I come into contact with. But I know there are many people out there–in this case, many journalists–who need it more than I.
I’ll wait.”
