No fewer than three students in Cameroon have been hospitalised after getting injured in a stampede following a rumoured coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccination campaign.
Local media reports said that students from the city of Kumba, southwest Cameroon fled their schools after hearing rumours that they would be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Yesterday, thousands of students from no fewer than 15 schools reportedly stayed away from school after social media posts that the schools would vaccinate students against the virus.
Local authorities described the rumours as false. Erick Tandi, a member of the anti-COVID campaign team at Cameroon’s Ministry of Health, said health workers have been sent to schools and communities to counter the disinformation.
He attributed the apathy to COVID-19 vaccination to fake information social media, adding that the Ministry of Public Health, in collaboration with all actors and partners, are doing their best to sensitize the population in order to kick out COVID-19 within their communities.
Authorities on Friday said the towns of Kumba and Bafia were the most affected by the false claims.
Only 200 out of 1,000 children were in class Monday at the Government High School in Bafia.
Health Minister Manaouda Malachie, on his Twitter account last week, announced a vaccination plan against COVID-19.
But he gave no details on the availability and origin of the vaccines or when the inoculations would start.
Cameroon has confirmed nearly 34,000 COVID cases and more than 500 deaths since the outbreak last March.
