Only 1% of Lagos residents vaccinated against COVID-19

LAGOS State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi has revealed that about 260,000 people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in the state.

  Prof Abayomi, who made this disclosure at a media briefing on Tuesday, in Lagos, stated that the figure represented just one per cent of the state’s population.

This may come as a shock to a lot of political and health analysts, considering the vigorous campaign launched by the state imploring residents to get vaccinated.

He said the second phase of vaccination would start soon and warned that Nigeria stood the risk of experiencing a third wave, having vaccinated only less than one per cent of its population.

According to him, health facilities in Lagos State have been placed on high alert to pick up early trends that may suggest a third wave of COVID-19.

 “Currently, countries like India, Brazil, Argentina, Iraq, Qatar, Peru, and Uruguay are being ravaged by a vicious third or fourth wave following a less active and insignificant second or third wave.

“The latest wave in India has been proven to be as a result of new mutant strains that have resulted in a dramatic increase in sickness and deaths for two weeks running.

“Whilst we commiserate with these countries, it is important that we protect our environment and residents against this virus, especially as we have less than one per cent of our population that have received their first dose of the Oxford Astra-Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine similar to India that has about eight per cent,” he said.

The commissioner said that Lagos was working towards ensuring a 60 per cent herd immunity, representing 14 million people to be achieved.

He said that among steps being taken to curb a third wave of the virus included aggressive testing, including mutant PCR testing to identify the particular virus strain.

“It also included the deployment of technology (EKOTELEMED) to track and monitor inbound travellers; enforcing non-pharmaceutical interventions; increase in oxygen supply and vaccination,” he noted.