Obaseki, Ehanire, WHO advocate vaccination amid rising COVID-19 deaths

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, have restated the need for more persons to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.

They spoke at the South-South Zone Town hall Meeting of Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination at the Government House, Benin City.

Osagie said over 90 per cent of deaths recorded from the COVID-19 pandemic were of unvaccinated persons, noting that the deaths occurred because those affected had no protection against Coronavirus.

He explained that the vaccines had been certified by the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and tested by other countries’ regulatory agencies, and these checks have assured that the vaccines are safe and effective for use.”
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Country representative, Development Partners and Donors of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Walter Molumbo, said the town hall meeting provided a robust opportunity to discuss the importance of vaccination.

On his part, Obaseki, who was represented by his Chief of Staff (CoS), Osaigbovo Iyoha, said: “The main objective of the COVID-19 vaccination exercise is to accelerate the spread of herd immunity, which will ultimately slow down and interrupt transmission of COVID-19 in the state and the country.”

“Edo State has received several thousand doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines since March 2021 till date, and over 130,000 persons have been vaccinated.”

He added that 98 per cent of deaths recorded in Edo are people who have not taken the vaccines, adding: “This underscores our decision to take the bold unwavering stance to get as many people as possible vaccinated so that we do not stretch our healthcare system and trigger collapse.

“Our target in Edo is to get a minimum of 60 per cent of our population fully vaccinated within the next one year so that we can effectively combat the pandemic. I implore everyone to get vaccinated to save lives and return to our normal lives.

“We urge those who are yet to get vaccinated to visit the nearest vaccination posts in worship centres, hotels, banks, event centres, markets, shopping malls and other strategic locations to get inoculated.”
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