Vaccine not meant for 18 years below – Health Commissioner
By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri-
The Deputy Governor of Borno State, Hon. Umar Kadafur who is also the Chairman of the State’s Taskforce Force on Covid-19 alongside The Commissioner of Health, Prof. Isa Hussaini Marte, have officially launched the Covid-19 vaccination in the State.
The Astrazeenica Covid-19 vaccine was launched on Thursday at Mamman Shuwa Memorial Hospital Maiduguri, with the Head of Isolation Centre, UMTH Maiduguri, Prof. Ibrahim Kida as the first front line health worker to take the vaccine in the State.
Flagging off the COVID-19 vaccine, Kadafu, said: “As people are all aware of the COVID-19 devastation in the state and country at large as well as the whole world. It has negative effects on the people which informed the Federal Government to procure sizeable number of the vaccine to prevent and cure the disease”.
“President Buhari has already launched the vaccine at the National level and urged the State Governors to do the same. As such, Borno State Governor will commence the vaccination tomorrow from Friday”.
He however commended the health workers, COVID-19 Task Force and collaborating partners like UNICEF and WHO for their supports and cooperation”.
On his part, The Commissioner of Health, Professor Marte, said the vaccination is first of its kind because of the devastating effect of Covid-19 disease, hence, thanking President Buhari for procuring the vaccine.
While noting that the Covid-19 vaccines is not for sale, Professor Marte said that the vaccines has been certified by medical and health experts such as the famous Oxford University among others.
He however noted that the vaccine has a very few side effects including allergic reactions to some persons especially, the vulnerable for just few days and would be off.
“Unlike the Madina vaccine it has normal temperature bearing”.
“Many people are skeptical about it. It has been made used in many other places. It is for prevention. Large size of population has used it. Prevention is better than cure.. It is better to prevent and protect the people,” Marte said.
The commissioner further appreciated the traditional council and religious leaders for mobilising their people but cautioned that children under the age of 18 years should not be injected or vaccinated.
In his remark, Prof. Marycelin from Polio Lab UMTH, Maiduguri, said there were 20 front line health workers who have been screened and registered for the administration of the COVID-19 vaccination.
However, 10 have already been registered and their bio-data have been sent to the National Disease Control Center (NCDC) for documentation as required for any body to be vaccinated for certification purposes.
On his part, The Executive Director, Borno State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (BSPHCDA), Dr. Aliyu Shettima Lafiya who was represented by the State Coordinator, Dr. Suleiman Maiduvu, said the vaccine would be administered in phases with the first phase being administered after screening and registration.
“Then after a week or so, the second phase of the vaccine will be taken and subsequently the other phases”, he said.
He explain further that there is also categories of the people to taken the vaccine which include the frontline health workers before the VIPs and next to those between 55 years and above before those at the age of 54 downward to 19 years.
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