Covid-19 Vaccines: Kogi Flag Off Vaccines, Raises ” Research Team” On Vaccines.
By Idris Ahmed, Lokoja.
Kogi state government has finally flagged off Covid 19 vaccination on Tuesday after receiving 16,900 doses of Astrazenica oxford vaccines from National Primary Health Development Agency (NPHDA)
No Controversy Over Discovery Of Kogi COVID-19 Index Case. —- NCDC
Commissioner of Health, Dr Saka Haruna Audu who flagged off the exercise on behalf of the state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, announced that Kogi state government has raised a ” research team” on Covid-19 and the vaccines, to explore the deficiency of the virus in the state, monitor the vaccination closely to identify effects and side effects that may be noticed after administering the vaccines on individuals.
He explained that Kogi state with a population of about 4.6 million people, the research team will go into the various communities using the Covid-19 molecular laboratories that could help to answer some salient questions regarding the scourge.
The team is headed by Dr Francis Akpa of the Federal Medical Centre Lokoja
https://kogionline.com.ng/covid-19-vaccination-begins-in-kogi-prioritises-health-workers/
The Commissioner who used the opportunity of the flag off explain the stand of Kogi state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Covid-19, which he said was in the best interest of the state, said as a leader, the Governor would not allow any calamity to befall his people.
He stated that no investigation on the spread of the virus was carried out before asking people to take measures on what is not known to them, pointing out though the pandemic is real in some places across the globe, some areas were not affected as was circulated, appealing to the people not to misunderstand or misconstrue the sincerity of his utterances.
Dr Audu who also admitted that the virus is real in some places, said despite the menace of Covid-19 across the globe, Kogi has not recorded death toll beyond the average statistical data of over two years ago, assured assuring that the vaccines are preventive.
He therefore advised the people of the state to come forward and receive the vaccines, though nobody will compelled or denied.
Earlier the Director General of the National Primary Health care Development Agency (NPHDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, represented by Dr Utibe Abasi Urua, a Director of the agency said over 3.1 million Nigerians have so far been vaccinated since the arrival and distribution of the vaccines in the country.
He cautioned that the preventive measure of Covid-19 does not start and end with the vaccines and therefore urged the people to continue and maintain the protocol of hand washing, social distancing, wearing face mask, avoid crowded areas as well as keeping sanitary rules and clean environment.
The Director General therefore advised the state Ministry of Health to always brief the press to reach to the grassroots .
As top Government notchers were absent at the ceremony, the first dose was administered on Dr Abubakar Yakubu, the state Director Primary Health care Development Agency.
The occasion was witnessed by religious leaders, Civil Society Organizations, People living with disabilities and relevant stakeholders.
