The Borno State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA) in support of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); has vaccinated 34,000 residents against COVID-19 in the Maiduguri metropolis and Jere council. The health Agency has set up 70 centres to continue with vaccination exercise under phase two across the state. The Executive Director of SPHCDA, Dr. Goni Abba; disclosed this Tuesday at the Media Orientation and Sensitization meeting held in Maiduguri, the state capital. He said that arrangements have been completed to commence the second phase of COVID-19 vaccinations, as 63,336 doses of Moderna vaccines were received. According to him, the designated COVID-19 vaccinations centres; are to be run by 14 teams of health workers in eight Local Government Areas.
He added that 17 teams of health workers are strategically administering the vaccines on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in camps. On the safety and efficacy of the vaccines, Dr. Musa Melton, disclosed; “There are no side effects or challenges of taking the jabs,” stating that the Moderna vaccine has 94 percent efficacy, while Pfizer has 95%. He declared that those who have been vaccinated, have not complained of any major side effects. He therefore warned that when someone shows symptoms of COVID-19, one has to be treated first and recovered before taking the vaccine.
Besides, he added that the COVID-19 vaccines prevent ‘hospitalization and deaths’ among the people in the state. “Your bodies develop immunity without having the illness, after taking this vaccine,” he said. The UNICEF Facilitator, Elizabeth Onitolo urged that the media could develop a sustainable engagement to increase demands for the vaccines. According to her, the COVID-19 sensitization could also boost the continuous administer of vaccines by publicizing vaccination evidence.
