Some fishing folks in communities along the coastal stretch of the Central Region have identified injection phobia (trypanophobia) as a key factor affecting COVID-19 vaccine uptake in their communities.
They said: "Everyone has something to be afraid of, but one common phobia of many fishermen in the Central Region is injection taking".
Various vaccination exercises have elicited serious reactions among many fishers with severe panic attacks, dizziness, insomnia, elevated heartbeat among others.
The fishermen expressed these concerns at a focused group discussion on "knowledge, attitude and practices towards COVID-19 uptake" at Saltpond in the Mfantseman Municipal on Tuesday.
It was put together by the Mfantseman Municipality office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), to solicit the views of key stakeholders on COVID-19, jab uptake, and encourage people to go for the injection.
The participants were taken through basic information on COVID-19, history, benefits of vaccination, and currently approved vaccines for COVID-19 treatment in Ghana and COVID-19 vaccination myths.
Underscoring the essence of the COVID-19 jab, Nana Egya Afful, Chief Fishermen for Kormantse No2, identifies anxiety and fear borne out vaccine reactions of persons who have taken the jab, as hampering vaccination among many fishers.
Others are the misinformation and misconceptions about the COVID-19 vaccine underpinned by religious, social, and racial beliefs.
Madam Agnes Moore, Vice President of Mankessim Market Traders Association said many fishers refused to buy from trader who wore nose masks claiming such traders rather had COVID-19.