Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Thursday, formally received the official consignment of the Oxford AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine from the federal government.
Governor Ikpeazu who equally received his first dose of the vaccine at the Government House Umuahia, appealed to Abians to make themselves available for vaccination.
Governor Ikpeazu stated that the deployment of the vaccine is a global decision endorsed by the World Health Organization and captured by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) which is the lead agency in Nigeria that is battling covid-19 with the aimed of eradicating the disease in Nigeria.
“All of us must key into this global agenda to stamp out COVID-19 in all communities in Abia and Nigeria at large.
“It is my prayer that this vaccine will aid us in our battle against COVID-19, so that very soon everything will return to normal and we will bid issues of COVID-19 farewell forever,” he added.
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In an interview with newsmen, the Executive Secretary of Abia State Primary Healthcare Development Agenda (ASPHDA), Dr Chinagozi Adindu described the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine as efficacious.
Adindu said that the initial administration of the vaccine would be done on frontline workers, healthcare workers in private and government establishments, law enforcement agents, Abia COVID-19 taskforce team and the elderly.
He said that the agency was adequately prepared to conduct full administration of the vaccine for persons within the targeted group during the vaccination exercise.
Adindu said that the first batch of the vaccine received by the state would be adequate for the vaccination of the targeted group of persons.
He added that in no distant time the state would take delivery of the second batch, and the second batch of the vaccine would be administered on the vulnerable, especially people with underlying ailments.
“The arrangement is that after receiving the first shot, the person will come again for the second shot which will take place two months from today.
“It is important to receive the second shot within 8-12 weeks, after the first shot as this will be the complete dose which means the person is protected from COVID-19.
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