BY MAYOWA SAMUEL
The Lagos State Government has flagged off a massive COVID-19 vaccination in the state.
This is part of the massive vaccination campaign to reach a four-million target of getting more Lagosians vaccinated before the end of December.
The project which commenced in the Mainland Local Government Area, under the hash-tag #KosayeCovidLeko (no room for COVID-19 in Lagos), was designed in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA.
According to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the move remains sacrosanct in view of possible widespread that may erupt from the festivities.
The Chairman, Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board, Prof. Akin Oshibogun, who spoke at the commencement of the campaign which kicked off at the Abule Nla Primary Health Centre, Ebute-Metta, Lagos, dispelled rumours around the vaccine, describing the vaccines as “safe, efficacious and effective.”
He said intense follow-up for the past four months have been sustained on all vaccinated persons, the result of which he said have proven such rumours of blood clotting, magnetisation and sudden death, amongst others, wrong.
He maintained that blood samples from the “vaccines” have been taken and monitored to detect any case of blood clotting, none of which he said have been found.
Explaining such complaints as effects of pain and fever upon vaccination as natural body reactions to the vaccine, the Chairman described the rumours as “tales by the moonlight.”
The Permanent Secretary, LSPHCB, Dr. Ibrahim Mustafa, said the massive rollout is a strategic step towards mitigating the effects of COVID-19 with an enlightenment campaign.
He said, “more than we have done, we want to reach more than 60 percent. The Board is committed to triple the efforts on the campaign which started about eight months ago for massive vaccination before December.”
He added that the Board would work alongside religious leaders to convince and urge the people to come out for the vaccination process.
According to the Permanent Secretary, research has revealed that those who have suffered fatalities and illness from the virus recently, were those who have not been vaccinated.
He stressed that “against publicity of adverse reaction, it has been proven beyond reasonable doubt that the vaccine is safe” and is effective to protect against disease from the virus.”
