Benue to begins Astrazeneca COVID-19 vaccination Thursday

The Benue State Action Committee on COVID-19 is to flag off the administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine recently received by the committee Thursday this week.

It is to be on voluntary basis, with people recieving their vaccinations at the various local government areas.

The vaccination is expected to commence with front line Health Workers and appointees of government.

These decisions were reached at an emergency meeting held today at the Benue People’s House Makurdi to discuss the way forward after more than 10 European countries put a halt to the administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine in their countries due to certain side effects noticed among those vaccinated.

Benue State deputy Governor and Chairmen State Action committee on COVID-19, Engr Benson Abounu said the meeting became necessary in order to look into the challenges arising from the side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine on people in those countries.

The Deputy Governor disclosed that he had on different occasions questioned resource persons on the efficacy and safety of the vaccine in Nigeria but was disappointed at the responses he got.

He however called on the committee to be abreast with what is going on around the world with regards to the administration of the vaccine and urged them to make available a data base for those to be vaccinated for research and record purposes.

Speaking during the meeting, the Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Board, Dr Ben Ageda disclosed that Health workers have been trained to facilitate the administration of the vaccine across the 23 local government areas of state with over 120 teams set to manage the exercise.

He explained that the Astrazeneca vaccine is expected to be taken twice with the second dose taken after twelve weeks from the first one.

The representative of World Health Organization ((WHO), Dr Isreal Popoola assured the people of the efficacy, and safety of the Astrazeneca vaccine and called on the people to go out to be vaccinated without panic.