Following the recent controversies birthed by negative theories against the COVID-19 vaccine with the speculation of a magnetic component in vaccinated persons, newsmen has spoken with some medical experts who uncovered more facts and allayed the fear being entertained by some persons.
Newsmen reports that several motion pictures recently emerged on social media showing an alleged metallic object been stuck to the shoulder of those who took jab of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine, at the point where the jabs were injected.
The unverified footage led to speculations that the vaccine has components believed to be magnetic, arousing fear that those who participated in the vaccination exercise would die after two years.
Some Nigerians who spoke to newsmen, said they developed a phobia for the vaccines after watching some of the ‘misleading’ videos currently circulating on social media.
Miss Jeremiah who spoke to our correspondent in Abuja, said she would prefer to contract the disease and battle for recovery than ‘incurring magnet’ into her body in the name of prevention.
“A friend of mine did the experiment yesterday. We thought it was just a social media thing but we were all shocked when a door key got stuck to his arm where he previously received the vaccine.
“Since then, I made up my mind that I’m not going to take the vaccine. It does not matter what happened, I just don’t want to be part of their demonic agenda”, she said.
Footage with a June 27 timestamp showed a spoon stuck to a woman’s arm.
“This thing is true,” a female narrator said in the video. “My friend took the COVID-19 vaccine, and we just experimented it right now to see if what people are saying is true. Look, this is a spoon, and it sticks.”
In the 30 seconds clip, the narrator urged people not to take the vaccine.
A similar scenario was replicated in the second clip. However, this time around, the narrator, speaking in Hausa language showed in the video, was male, and the purported experiment was conducted with a key.
Similarly, an Evangelist, Mr Onome Damion described the vaccine as satanic, alleging that there were spiritual motives behind the emergence of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Malaria is one of the killer diseases affecting us here in Africa, how many of the experts have been able to find a vaccine for this epidemic? Don’t you think there is an evil agenda towards this vaccine? I and my family will not be part of it,” he said.
However, a medical doctor with the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, Benue State, Ifegbike Kalu, said the alleged content may not be a magnetic component.
Speaking with newsmen, Kalu wondered what is widely believed to be a magnetic component maybe something else.
Kalu, however, noted that such claims and counter-claims have to be subjected to scientific tests.
According to Kalu: “The truth is that the aspect of magnetic component in COVID-19 vaccine is very shady. I really don’t want to go into it because it’s not very clear.
“However, it’s science and anything science has to be proven; some of those theories of magnetic effect in the vaccine is something you take with the pinch of salt and not discharge it completely.
“What if it’s not a magnetic component but some other things? But I just feel people should apply caution.
“When you talk about vaccine, it’s having a balance in the sense that if you administer a vaccine what is it you want to achieve and if you don’t what are the likely consequences?
“COVID-19 has a high mortality rate and that is the reason why they put aside the lengthy trial of the vaccine and ensured that people get it.
“Vaccine should have a lengthy trial but this doesn’t have that.”
Similarly, an Abuja-based medical doctor, John Mark debunked the claim, saying there is nothing magnetic about the vaccine.
According to him, some metal objects such as spoon, key have likely hood of sticking on someone’s body whether with or without a vaccine.
“I have actually watched some claims on social media and I must tell you that some of these claims are so irritating. How can a vaccine turn to a magnet in the recipient’s body? It is unfortunate that even the learned people are subscribing to these claims, so unfortunate.
“The one that saddens me the most is how it gives electric light. And this can only come out of Africa. There is nothing wrong with the COVID:19 vaccine please,” he stated.
A doctor who based in the United States, Dr Joseph Onu told our correspondent that there is no truth to the speculation, urging those yet to take the vaccine to do so.
“No, there is no truth to it. If you have the opportunity, go ahead and take it,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sunday, expressed concern over the increasing cases of coronavirus in the state, stating that isolation centres in Lagos have recorded a five per cent increase in the number of patients in two weeks.
According to him, it appears that there is a potential third wave in Lagos State.
The governor explained that as of July 7, Lagos State had recorded a total of 60,202 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
“Regrettably, in spite of the hard work and dedicated efforts towards sustaining the return to normalcy, over the last three months, we are now finding ourselves at what appears to be the start of a potential third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Lagos State”, he added.
As of July 13, Nigeria had recorded 168,713 cases of the virus since the outbreak in 2020. No fewer than 2,124 have died due to complications while about 164,476 were successfully treated and discharged.
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