Residents of Port Harcourt have expressed serious concerns over the use of teenagers by the Rivers State Ministry of Health to carry out immunisation exercises across the state.
Some parents say they are hesitant to allow the teenagers vaccinate their children, citing doubts about their professionalism, age, and appearance. They argue that the young vaccinators do not appear properly trained or dressed like qualified health workers, raising fears about the safety and credibility of the process.
A concerned parent, Ify Wobo, said she refused to allow the teenagers administer vaccines on her children after they showed up at her residence. “They didn’t look like medical professionals. I couldn’t risk it,” she said.
A prominent Rivers-based journalist also voiced concern, warning that the use of untrained teenagers could expose children to infections. “If you see the teenagers engaged by the Ministry of Health for vaccination, you won’t allow them near your child. They can infect that child with germs,” he stated.
The residents are calling on the Rivers State Ministry of Health to deploy properly trained and certified adults for immunization, stressing that the safety of children should not be taken lightly.
