EVERYDAY PEOPLE

Everyday People is a chronicle of life as it is for the everyday person.

Hey! I am Tom and this is my everyday people narrative. 

Please pardon me for I am going to be very Nigerian in my submission.

This covid-19 scare is something else OOOoooh! Today, Omicron, next tomorrow, Delta, who knows what will come next? I "taya!"

Have you noticed lately, that everyone around you is coming down with flu like symptoms? 

Like, what is really happening? It has never been this bad! 

Someone somewhere is either complaining of catarrh or a cough, (a dry cough or one with phlegm). A runny nose, or sneezing, nasal congestion.

While another, is having muscle or whole body pain, with a head congestion. 

Yet another, is expressing, chills, dehydration, fatigue, fever, flushing, loss of appetite, or sweating. 

And again, yet another, whines about having, chest pressure, headache, nausea, sore throat, etc. 

Crazy times indeed! 

Or maybe, this whole feeling of discomfort, is as a result of the harmattan and the ever present "smiling" mosquitoes. 

Back then as a child, whenever we complain of the harshness of the weather at harmattan. I remember my grandma would jokingly remind us that the harmattan is envious of the rainy and sunny seasons. "Humans are the ones who bare the brunt of her envy. The harmattan while seeking solace, embraces us with the dusty wind from the far Sahara. The harmattan wishes she is loved like the other weather conditions." My grandma would say.

Nonetheless the feeling of unwell amongst the populace has never been this bad.

I visited the pharmacy yesterday and you will not fathom this, the Pharmacist, the auxiliary nurse and the attendant, were all down with a form of flu like symptoms or another. 

Okay, you are wondering why I went to the pharmacy, right? I have a persistent cold. Funny, how the symptoms I have, are the exact same symptom the pharmacist and attendant are complaining about. 

No! I am not freaking out or exaggerating.

This situation got me seriously thinking of getting my Covid-19 jab but the fear of what the vaccine might do to me is slowing down my decision process.

Below are a number of reasons why quite a number of people in this part of the world, have not taken the vaccine yet.

Notice I said yet because the way I see it, "last, last," we all "go take" the vaccine.

1. The natural fear of the unknown; it is a brand new development to some, so, it is sort of "unknown."

2. The fear of a slight or complete change in our body function or structure. Did I hear you laugh? Well this is so true. "Nobody wan change to monkey or gorilla OOOoooh!"

3. The fear of, "will I survive it? What if something tragic happens after I take it?". 

4. The fear of the vaccine having two different "versions". A "version" for the wealthy, the government in power and their cronies (obviously the good one, the original) and the "version" for the poor (the 'anyhow' one).

5. The conspiracy. A fraction, believe this is all a conspiracy theory. That there is nothing like covid-19. 

6.  There are people who hold on to the opinion that the corona virus has always been in existence. Therefore, Nigeria and Africa at large, are blessed with evergreen medicinal herbs. That Africans are fully aware of the modus operandi to deal with a covid situation whenever it rares it's ugly head. So why the fuss?

7. Another school of thought believe that, yeah, there is Covid-19 but it is blown out of proportion by the Government in power. This is in order to get monies in grants and donations from the international community. "Cool dollars from oyinbo people".

8. These group of persons have the weirdest believe which is since everyone is having flu like symptoms, most probably the Chinese or western world have injected the air, the whole atmosphere with the virus. Afterall there is nothing they cannot do.

9. Some persons believe that the Covid-19 is just another attempt to reduce the population of Africa by giving us vaccines that will affect our reproductive health, cause infertility and eliminate the weaklings at the same time.

They hold on strongly to the believe that this has always been, a long time ambition of the white man and the Chinese are not left out of this. They say that the Chinese as a nation is densely populated and would not mind coming to take over Africa because Africa is rich in natural resources with a network of vast land.

These speculations are truly rooted deep concerns and believes. 

Nontheless, realistically, I have had the opportunity to witness first hand, persons who contacted the Covid-19 virus. 

The lost of smell, shortness of breath, the pain and discomfort; my brother the thing is real OOOoooh!

You know what? As soon as I am done with treatment for my cold. I am going to get my Covid-19 vaccine! "Nothing dey happen!". "I no dey fear again joooooh!" Infact, I will get a covid test done and then get vaccinated. 

Getting the covid-19 vaccine reduces your risks of infection. 

The vaccine protects against life threatening illness.

Studies, have shown the vaccines to be effective at preventing severe illness from COVID-19. So if you are vaccinated and become infected, you are very unlikely to become severely ill.

Fellow Africans please let us stop all these baseless conspiracy theories and get vaccinated. 

Written by Janet 

Image Credit: Istock