Ayodele Olalere
Following the receipt of the first consignment of the COVID-19 vaccines, in Lagos State, on Wednesday, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has announced that the state would begin the roll out of the vaccine to the public, this weekend.
While receiving the country representative of the World Health Organisation (W.H.O), Dr. Walter Mulombo, on a courtesy visit at the State House, Alausa, the governor said a steering committee had been set up for the administration of the vaccine and will.soon begin deployment of the vaccine.
It was recalled the state received the first consignment of 507,000 doses of Oxford-Astra-Zeneca vaccines provided by the Federal Government, on Tuesday.
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The governor expressed optimism that the vaccine rollout would be successfully implemented, adding that the State’s Primary Healthcare Board would lead the effort in achieving herd immunity.
Said he, “We have instituted a steering committee for the vaccine administration, which comprises health practitioners in the public and private sectors.
“They have designed a robust vaccine implementation strategy and they have identified various segments of our citizens who need to get first and in what order.
“Working with the State Primary Healthcare Board, we will start administering the vaccine by the weekend.
“We are leading from the front to convince our citizens that the vaccine is needed to build resistance, especially among frontline workers and those who have underlying issues,” Governor Sanwo-Olu said.
The governor also said the curve of the second wave of the virus had been flattened in Lagos, but added that the State still faced some challenging issues in the response. He said the State had put in place an elaborate process to ensure the vaccine administration succeeds.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said health remained a critical component of his administration’s programmes in boosting human capital index, while also pledging the State’s readiness to partner with W.H.O in new areas of collaboration.
In his response, Mulombo said the W.H.O recognised Lagos State Government’s contribution towards making Nigeria polio free, stressing that the country had shown courageous efforts in its response to stop COVID-19.
He added that United Nations’ agency looked forward to Lagos’ leadership in efficient administration of COVID-19 vaccine.
“We are here to re-assure you of UN’s continued support for Lagos State in combating health issues.
“We look forward to that leadership displayed in the early days of COVID-19 response and urge Lagos to show the same in rolling out the vaccine,” Mulombo said.