COVID-19 vaccination: Delta govt expresses worry over low turnout

Delta State government has noted that some people of influence had added sentiments to the issue of COVID-19 vaccination which has created doubts and hesitancy in the state.

According to the Commissioner for Health, Dr Mordi Ononye, this attitude was responsible for the low number of people showing up for vaccination across the state.

Speaking at a press conference in Asaba, Dr. Ononye advocated a holistic approach of critical stakeholders in stemming the spread of the pandemic through sensitising of the populace on the need to be vaccinated and strictly adhere to all protocols against the virus in the state.

He said that the COVID-19 vaccines were safe and taking themwas good for the well-being of all, as it will reduce the severity of ailment on whoever contracted the virus.

“I took the vaccines, both jabs and later came down with the virus which was very mild because of the vaccines I took earlier. Today, I am alive and healthy. So, the negative information being spread around will not help us as a people,” he said.

“The COVID-19 vaccine confers on one that immunity to confront the virus. Everyone should join and spread the information that COVIDd-19 vaccines are safe and all should take them as this will help reduce the severity when one contracts the virus,” the commissioner stated.

Responding to the call on the enforcement of safety protocols to check the spread of the virus, the commissioner said “we try as much as possible not to be punitive, but appeal to the good sense of judgment of Deltans and residents alike to apply themselves to what have been prescribed.”

On the issue of treatment, the commissioner said that the state government had incorporated the treatment of COVID-19 treatment architecture in its health facilities which meant  that Deltans who registered with the state’s Contributory Health Scheme could get tested for the virus and treated free of charge.

He, therefore, called on those in the informal sector that were yet to register with the scheme to do so with the sum N7,000 only yearly which would afford them the opportunity to benefit.

The commissioner expressed gratitude to God that the state had not recorded any death in the wave of Omicron variant and added that residents should be more cautious as the variant spreads faster and most of the time those affected were asymptomatic.

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