Governors take COVID-19 vaccine jabs

Some governors of the 36 states of the federation have commenced the vaccination against COVID-19 to reassure citizens of its efficacy.

Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State on Wednesday led other top members of his administration to take the COVID-19 vaccination in Dutse, allaying fears about the safety of the vaccine.

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The governor, who had earlier taken delivery of about 60,000 doses of vaccines donated to the state by the Presidential Taskforce (PTF) on COVID-19, said it was safe.

He said that apart from top government officials, frontline workers, such as health workers, security agencies, traditional and religious leaders, among other stakeholders, would take the vaccination, after which the aged and people with underlining medical conditions would be considered.

Meanwhile, the Niger State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, and his cabinet members, on Wednesday, expressed fear as they took the COVID-19 vaccine at the Council Chamber, Minna.

Speaking shortly before he was vaccinated, the governor said he was still concerned about the genuineness of the vaccines, just like his cabinet members.

Bello said he received a lot of text messages from his council members.

In the same vein, Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State and his deputy, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, on Wednesday received the COVID-19 Astrazeneca vaccine at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House clinic.

He urged other citizens of the state, particularly leaders, to also receive their doses.

Also, the Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, his deputy, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi and some frontline health workers have taken the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

Fayemi took the first dose of the vaccine on Wednesday at 11:55 am, administered by the commissioner for health and human services in the state, Dr Oyebanji  Filani.

The wife of the governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Funminiyi Afuye and a representative of the State Council of Traditional Rulers/Attah of Aiyede-Ekiti, HRM Oba Abdulmumin Orisagbemi and some members of the public also took their jabs at a brief ceremony held at Fajuyi Pavillion, Ado-Ekiti.

In a related development, the Ondo State governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and his deputy, Mr Lucky Ayedatiwa, on Wednesday, received jabs of the Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine in Akure,  the state capital.

Frontline traditional rulers who also received the vaccines were the Deji Of Akure, Oba Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo and the Osemawe of Ondo, Oba victor Kiladejo, as well as some top government functionaries.

Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State, his wife, Kafayat and the deputy governor, Adegboyega Alabi, on Wednesday also took the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at the Government House, Osogbo.

The vaccine was administered by the Chief Medical Director, Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Professor Peter Olaitan.

On Tuesday evening, the state received 64,240 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine from the federal government.

Meanwhile, the Borno State Government has fixed Thursday for the inoculation of top officials and health workers after taking delivery of 75,510 of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from the federal government Tuesday night.

The deputy governor of the state, Umaru Khadafur, who spoke while answering questions from newsmen at the Maiduguri International Airport, said the consignment was received and plans were underway for onward distribution.

Khadafur, who was the chairman of the Response Committee on COVID-19 in the state, assured that the officials were expected to meet this morning to officially roll out the distribution plan.

Speaking to newsmen at Cool Room Centre in Maiduguri, the executive director of the Borno State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Aliyu Shettima, confirmed that today (Thursday) has been fixed for the inoculation.

He reiterated that adequate mechanism had been put in place to ensure the safe delivery of the vaccines to the three zones in the state.

In the meantime, the Bauchi State Government received 80, 570 out of the 150, 000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.

The deputy governor of the state, who is also the chairman of Taskforce Committee on Coronavirus, Senator Baba Tele, disclosed this on Wednesday while receiving the vaccine at the Cold Store of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital (ATBU-TH), Bauchi.

Tela said the vaccination, which would commence today [Thursday] would be first administered to frontline health workers, government officials, security agents and religious and traditional leaders.

Similarly, the Adamawa State Government has received 59,000 COVID-19 doses of AztraZeneca vaccine from the federal government through the Presidential Task Force on Tuesday night.

The Secretary to the State Government, Malam Bashir Ahmad, disclosed this Wednesday evening while briefing newsmen. He said the vaccines had been stored at the facility of the Adamawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency.

He said the state had concluded plans to kick off the vaccination on Monday, March 15, 2021, adding that they had created a portal for the registration of residents interested in taking the vaccine.

From Mohammed Abubakar (Dutse), Romoke W. Ahmad (Minna), Olatunji Omirin, Misbahu Bashir (Maiduguri), Lami Sadiq, Mohammed Ibrahim Yaba (Kaduna), Raphael Ogbonnaiye (Ado-Ekiti), Bola Ojuola (Akure), Hassan Ibrahim (Bauchi), Kabiru R. Anwar, Amina Abdullahi (Yola), Hameed Oyegbade (Osogbo)