Having recorded huge success in the administering of vaccination against COVID-19 pandemic using the AstraZeneca vaccine, Bauchi State Government has flagged off the second phase of the vaccination.
Speaking at the flag-off campaign held at the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) at Bauchi late Saturday evening, Chairman, Bauchi State Task Force on Covid-19 Response, Senator Baba Tela informed the gathering that the second round of vaccination is for the general public having effectively reached the frontline workers and others in the first phase of the exercise.
Baba Tela who is the Deputy Governor said that the state is the first to secure multi-million naira worth ultra low-temperature freezers for the storage of the Covid-19 Vaccines, apart from the construction of a state of earth laboratory for Covid-19 testing and other diseases.
The Deputy Governor further explained that the initial vaccination roll out of Astrazenica targeted at frontline health workers and other priority groups showed that about 67,191 eligible individuals were vaccinated which was carried out from March to July 2021.
Currently according to him, the State has received 100,296 doses of MODERNA vaccines to be given in 114 Centres across the 20 LGAs in the state saying that unlike the first phase, this phase of vaccination using Moderna brand is targeting at general public from 18 years and above and that more vaccines donations are expected from other brands.
Earlier in his remarks, Executive Chairman of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (BASPHCDA), Dr Rilwanu Mohammed said that Nigeria has received 4 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines, a Moderna brand of which Bauchi was allocated over 100,000 doses.
Rilwanu Mohammed also revealed that apart from the state government’s effort to purchase 2 ultra cold chain refrigerators, recently the FG added another one so as to support the preservation of the Vaccines and essential drugs coming in to the state.
He then called on the state government to support the Agency to resume back community testing so as to prevent further spread of this disease, particularly with the emergence of Delta variants in some parts of the country.
The Executive Chairman of BSPHCDA, also appealed to the general public to continue to adhere to all the non pharmaceutical measures, maintaining infection, prevention and control protocols, pointing out that the misinformation about the vaccine uptake, hesitancy as well as the social media distorted stories about the vaccine have all remained untrue.
It will be recalled that on 30th April 2021, WHO listed the Moderna vaccine for emergency use after WHO’s Emergency Use Listing (EUL) assessed the quality, safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines which is a prerequisite for COVAX Facility vaccine supply.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has thoroughly assessed the data on the quality, safety and efficacy of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and authorized its use across the European Union because it has been shown to have an efficacy of approximately 94.1 per cent in protecting against COVID-19, starting 14 days after the first dose.
The SAGE of medicine has recommended the use of the Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine at a schedule of two doses 28 days apart and if necessary, the interval between the doses may be extended to 42 days.
Zonal Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Mai Yakubu represented by the National Supervisor, NPHCDA, Dr. Bakunawa Bello commended the state for its resilience and being proactive towards emergencies.
Technical Adviser of the USAID-funded Integrated Health Program, IHP in Bauchi Dr. Khalid Abubakar expressed the program’s commitment towards supporting the state to achieve healthcare delivery to its people.
Also in attendance at the flag-off ceremony and made remarks were representatives of WHO, Breakthrough-USAID, Plan International, Traditional, religious institutions and Academics who shared experiences, reflecting on the successful implementation of the first phase exercise of the vaccination in the state.
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