AKHA HARPS ON SENSITIZATION OF THE PEOPLE ON COVID 19 VACCINE

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has passed a motion directing the Ministry of Health, Information and Strategy as well as Ethical and Attitudinal Re-orientation Commission to immediately embark on aggressive and rigorous sensitization campaign to enlighten the people on the potency, safety, efficacy and functionality of Covid 19 vaccines received in the State yesterday.

This followed a motion brought to the House by Rt Hon (Barr) Aniefiok Dennis, member representing Etinan State Constituency titled “Covid 19: Imperative Need To Embrace Vaccination”.

The House also implored the State Government and relevant agencies to list categories of persons that would be vaccinated with the first batch of the vaccines as well as make public, schedules and centres where the exercise will take place for the avoidance of doubt by the people.

The House called on the Ministry of Health and relevant agencies of government to devise suitable means and preparedness to store, distribute and administer the vaccines on the people appropriately.

It will be recalled that the Federal Ministry of Health on behalf of Nigerian Government took delivery of the vaccine this March, 2021 and for the avoidance of doubts, President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Prof Yemi Osibanjo were successfully vaccinated against the virus.

Other people including members of the Presidential Task Force on Covid 19 led by its Chairman and Secretary to the Federal Government, Boss Mustapha have also been vaccinated.

However, some persons are apprehensive and doubtful of the potency and efficacy of the vaccine due to their beliefs that the Covid 19 vaccine may have adverse effect on people.

It could be recalled that the Commissioner for Health in Akwa Ibom State, Prof Augustine Vincent had on behalf of Akwa Ibom State Government on 10/3/2021 taken delivery of 69,030 doses of Astrazeneca Covid 19 vaccine from the Federal government with the assurance that the vaccine is safe and that the state cold chain facility was ready to preserve it.

He disclosed that frontline health workers will be the first to receive the vaccine, hence the need for the call for sensitization by the State House of Assembly.