Ogun governor, deputy, Osoba, others receive COVID-19 vaccine

The Ogun Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, his deputy, Engr (Mrs) Noimot Salako-Oyedele, and members of the State Executive Council, on Monday evening, received the Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

While the vaccine was administered on the former governor of the state, Chief Olusegun Osoba, on Tuesday, at the Governor’s Office Clinics, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

They all took the first jabs of the vaccine shortly after the state government received 50,000 out of 100,000 doses allocated to the state by the Federal Government.

Dr Abimbola Olaitan, a long-standing frontline worker, who has been managing the State-owned Isolation Centre in Abeokuta since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, was the first to take the vaccine in the state on Monday.

While the Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, administered the first jab of the vaccine on the Governor, the deputy governor and other members of the cabinet to their turns.

Abiodun appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for providing the leadership that enabled the country to receive almost four million vaccines, saying that the leadership being provided by the President in the last thirteen months is worthy of emulation.

He noted that the vaccination was a symbolic exercise done to show to the people how safe the vaccines are, and assured those that would be administered with the vaccine that the state will get the next set of vaccines to be administered as a booster dose very soon.

“We’ve all taken this vaccine, so as to dispel misinformation. There should be no reluctance on the part of all of us to take this vaccine. We also believe that this further underscores that we believe in this vaccine and it is important as we have been advised by specialists worldwide that the vaccine is safe; the vaccines have been shown to reduce the severity of this disease.

“However, we’ve been warned that the full benefit of the vaccine can only be enjoyed when you’ve taken the second dosage, even after this first dose, you must continue to use your facemask and continue to social distance, it is not a license to begin to move about without your facemask.

Speaking after taking his jab, former governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba said he took it upon himself to come for the vaccination to encourage others not to hesitate to take the vaccine.

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“There is absolutely no risk or danger in taking the COVID-19 vaccine. I recommend the vaccine to everyone in the state. If I have taken the vaccine at the age of 82, there is no need for anyone to fear. I am confident the vaccine wouldn’t harm anyone,” he assured.

Chief Osoba while congratulating the governor and the state government for being the first state to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, said that he was at the Governor’s office to show example and leadership.

“I want to congratulate the governor and government of Ogun State for being the first state to receive this vaccine and I have come to show an example, leadership and to convince our people in Ogun State that the vaccine is safe and that they should ignore many of the misinformation that is going on the internet about the risk in taking this vaccine,” he said.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE