News
Sanwo-Olu, deputy take COVID-19 vaccine
By Oyebola Owolabi
The Lagos State Government on Friday commenced its COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccination programme with Health Commissioner Akin Abayomi leading the way at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), Yaba.
He was followed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat.
Sanwo-Olu took the injection at 3:03p.m. while Hamzat was injected at about 3:10p.m. at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), Yaba.
The vaccination exercise also got underway on Friday at the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta, Lagos, where health workers led by the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Adedamola Dada, took turns to get the jabs.
The vaccination will be administered in 88 centres set up for the purpose across the state by the government.
Sanwo-Olu, who is the state’s COVID-19 Incident Commander, thanked the frontline workers for their services and efforts at curbing the spread of the virus.
He said the government would come out with a strategy to vaccinate the residents, while hoping that the world would be free of the virus soon.
The governor also urged the people to refrain from spreading false information about the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, saying it (the vaccine) would help to fight the infection of the virus.
Health Commissioner Akin Abayomi assured the people that the vaccine was safe.
He said 88 centres have been set up across the state for the administration of the vaccine to enhance the immunity and health of its citizens.
Read Also: Umahi, Deputy, spouses receive COVID-19 vaccine
Abayomi said the commencement of the vaccine at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), Yaba, would involve inoculation of the state governor, members of his cabinet and some frontline healthcare workers.
He said three centres – IDH Yaba, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta- began vaccination yesterday for frontline healthcare workers.
He said that the other centres spread across various local government areas of the state would start their vaccination on Monday.
The commissioner listed those qualified to be inoculated in the first phase of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout as medical personnel, police, military, judiciary and port health officials.
According to him, citizens 50 years and above with comorbidities are also eligible to receive the vaccine.
He said that the phase two would have 18 to 49 years and those with comorbidities vaccinated, phase three and four would include everyone interested in receiving the vaccine, especially in high burden local government areas.
Abayomi said pregnant women and children under 18 years were exempted from the vaccine, saying they weren’t included in the clinical trials.
He said that an online portal would be opened to facilitate easy registration for the vaccine, advising those not listed in the priority list not to register.
He further said that the AstraZeneca vaccine has two doses, with the second dose taking up to 12 weeks apart from the first dose.
“After the first dose, you will have 60 per cent protection and up to 80 per cent after the second dose.
“Note that you might still contract COVID-19 after vaccination, but the level of severity might not be much after achieving this level of immunity,” he said.
The commissioner’ also said that the risk of not taking the vaccine outweighs that of being inoculated, adding that it would assist the state and Nigeria achieve herd immunity.
Abayomi appealed to citizens to submit themselves to be vaccinated when it gets to their turn as the vaccine was a global responsibility to slow down the disruption of the virus.
Information and Strategy Commissioner, Gbenga Omotoso, who also got a jab, appealed to residents to continue to take preventive measures.
