Residents of Chorkor, a suburb of Accra, on Monday turned out in their numbers to be vaccinated in the first phase of the Johnson & Johnson vaccination exercise.

The residents of Chorkor declined to be vaccinated during the initial vaccination exercise which involved the use of the AstraZeneca vaccination, due to misconceptions that the Covid-19 vaccines have diverse effects on humans.

The Deputy Director of Nursing Services, Public Health of the Accra Metro, Christiana Odei expressed satisfaction with the turn-out on the first day.

“This time it’s not like the initial one, they have understood it and they are really coming and asking for the vaccine. This is quite encouraging, that’s what we were looking forward to,” she said.

According to her, the change in perception could be attributed to the massive public education carried out in the area on the back of the outbreak of the Delta variant in Ghana.

“We did a lot of social modulation and announcement all over and so we are not surprised the people are patronizing it today.”

Speaking to JoyNews, a resident said they are convinced to receive the jabs, “initially, we thought it was a joke but now, we have seen it is real, so we have agreed to be vaccinated.”

After receiving the jab, some of the residents shared with JoyNews, reasons why they previously rejected being vaccinated.

“There were so many negative thoughts about it and people have been saying more negative things about the vaccine that was the reason why I didn’t come for it,” one said.

“I did not receive it because someone said those receiving the vaccines are dying afterwards, but now they say there’s a more violent variant, that would kill you as soon as you contract it so I want to vaccinate to keep me healthy,” another resident said.

65-year-old Zainab Yussif, after receiving her jab also called on the general public to partake in the exercise.

“I wish everyone will come and have it, I wish that they should not be afraid, they should all come and have it for prevention. So I’m begging everyone to come and have it.”

Another resident, 69-year-old Victoria Kissi said she has heard that the virus has a high impact on the elderly “if we are not careful, we may die that is why I am here to take my vaccine.”

The Deputy Director is, hopeful that the residents will continue to patronize the vaccines till the exercise ends on Friday.

Over 100,000 people in the seven selected districts of the region are targeted for phase one of the Johnson & Johnson vaccination.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is expected to be administered to persons who were unable to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine in the Ashanti and Greater Accra Regions' hotspots.