by Peregba Jerry
The Akwa Ibom State Government has commenced the rollout of the 63, 336 doses of the Moderna vaccine which it took delivery of yesterday.
This is part of measures to combat COVID-19 in the state which now has the Delta variant as confirmed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
The Secretary to State Government (SSG) and Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Covid-19 Committee, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
The statement read, “You will recall that exactly one month ago, precisely on the 22nd of July 2021, we had COVID-19 Management Committee Press update no 23. In that update, we informed you of the onset of another wave of the Coronavirus infection and called for caution and vigilance by everyone. We also called on citizens to adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the state. It has since then been confirmed by NCDC that the Delta variant of COVID-19 virus found in other parts of the country is in our dear state and that would partly explain the rapid increase in the number of cases in the state because of its high infectivity rate.
“It has, therefore, become imperative that we take actions to rein in the spread of the infection in the state. We have, however, noted, sadly, that the necessary precautions and guidelines earlier recommended are hardly being adhered to by most people thereby jeopardising our health and making the control of the pandemic very difficult.”
Ekwuem advised citizens to ensure they comply with non-pharmaceutical ways of protecting themselves from COVID-19 which includes washing of hands with water, use of sanitisers, wearing of facemasks, maintaining social distancing etc.
On the pharmaceutical method, Ekwuem said, “Just yesterday the state took delivery of sixty-three thousand three hundred and thirty-six (63,336) doses of the Modena vaccine as part of its effort to combat the pandemic. Full rollout of vaccination commences immediately. We encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to get vaccinated and protected against the virus. The vaccine is safe and effective. It shall be available at designated areas in Uyo and PHC Bases in the different LGAs.”
