William Attah, Gombe.
Commissioner for health in Gombe State, Dr. Habu Dahiru has expressed satisfaction with the acceptance and hitch free administration of the AstraZaneca vaccines in the State
He told newsmen at the end of an orientation of religious leaders and media houses on covid-19 vaccine introduction that the exercise has so far been flawless.
Since the State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya and other notable leaders were administered with the vaccines last week, the vaccination has been going on without a hitch and the State Commissioner of health says they have not received report of any adverse effect from the 15,959 persons who were vaccinated as at Wednesday 30th March, 2021.
According to him, the vaccination teams have already covered 44 % of the targeted population for the vaccination with 15,959 already being vaccinated.
He said, during the orientation, they received questions from the religious leaders on the efficacy and safety of the vaccines and they cleared the air on any doubt about the acceptance and reliability of the AstraZaneca vaccines.
“We’ve emphasized to them that the vaccines are very effective, can give 95% protection and when you take the first jab between the range of 8 to 12 weeks you’ll have higher response, so the vaccines are safe”, he stressed.
He also cleared the air about the much talked about side effects assuring that, “We also emphasized to them that there is no medicine whether curative or preventive that may not have side effects, but the importance of the vaccines outweighs the side effects.
“The side effects like, headache, body aches, fever may occur but it is important to note that its a reaction or shock that we can all contain”, he stated.
Expressing satisfaction with the coverage of the vaccination, Dr. Dahiru said, ” If at this stage I have covered 44 %, I am confident that we are going to achieve or meet our target”.
He said there are four to seven points where the vaccination is taking place in each of the eleven Local Government Areas of the State with over 4,000 health workers overseeing the vaccination. They comprise of vaccinators, recorders, supervisors among others.
During the orientation the participants were taken through technical explanations on the overview of the vaccines, potency of the vaccines, updates on covid-19, importance of the vaccines as well as a question and answer session.
