Take the vaccine: It is harmless and there is absolutely nothing to fear from it and no reason to doubt it.

That was the message from Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza, the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria Adamawa State chapter, and Alhaji Gambo Jika, the chairman of the Muslim Council of Adamawa State. They said the World Health Organisation (WHO) had declared the vaccine harmless and effective.

“The people of Adamawa State should get vaccinated without any fear of harm,” they said, adding that it was their duty as religious leaders to support the world in its effort to contain the spread of the pandemic.

The vaccines were delivered to the Adamawa State Specialist Hospital on March 10.

Jika said many people had speculated about the harmfulness of the vaccine but these had been unfounded and unjustified. No one had empirical evidence that the vaccine was harmful.

They called on their followers to go to the Adamawa State Specialist Hospital and get the vaccine as soon as possible.

The vaccine had been researched by health institutions around the world, they said, adding that the WHO would not accept or allow a vaccine that was harmful to people.

Mamza told citizens to stop believing in unauthenticated information about the virus and the vaccines.

“Continuing to believe this false information is a major factor helping to spread the virus,” he said.

Jika cautioned people to stop spreading rumours about the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The virus is not selective. It kills Africans and non-Afriricans. White and black. People should stop saying that it does not kill non-Africans,” he said.

Jika and Mamza called on other traditional leaders, pastors and imams to help create awareness about the safety of the vaccine and the need to get inoculated.