Go for first, second doses of COVID-19 vaccines – Health Commissioner tells ndi Anambra

By Chukwudi Nwauba

Anambra State Commissioner for Health,  Vincent Okpala has urged ndi Anambra to take the golden opportunity of receiving the ongoing first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccination exercise across the state.

Dr Okpala said this during the weekly radio programme on Anambra State Broadcasting Service (ABS), Awka, entitled: ‘Anambra Health Watch’.

He noted that the state government secured another vaccine from the federal government for non health workers after the first vaccine was administered to frontline health workers.  

The commissioner explained that vaccines constitute the most accessible and easiest means of preventing any kind of infectious diseases, especially the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Since my childhood until this moment, vaccines have been in existence so far as there is pandemic. Vaccines help tremendously in containing any pandemic.

“You can agree with me that since the vaccines were discovered some countries have gradually reopened their airports, borders for people to come in.

“We will not relent in our efforts at ensuring that people are aware of the right thing to do and that is why we will continue this advocacy.

“I have taken the second jab vaccine without having any medical issue; so people should utilise this golden opportunity to get vaccinated,’’ he said.

According to him, COVID-19 vaccine jabs can be received at the following centres, Government House Clinic, State Secretariat Clinic, Red Cross Amawbia and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, as well as the headquarters of 21 local government areas.

Majority of the callers during the radio programme commended the state government for appointing a commissioner who through his expertise, coordinated the health team that managed the pandemic.