The minister of health, Dr.Osagie Ehanire has commended Nigerians all over the country for their impressive collaboration with government agencies in getting the covid-19 vaccination adding that the exercise has been uneventful and has not recoded any adverse health events.
The minister gave this commendation in Abuja during the presidential task force press briefing on monday.
He also commended president Muhammed Buhari and the vice president, Prof. Osinbajo as well as other strategic leaders, who have taken the vaccine along with frontline health care workers adding that their engagement has helped to demonstrate to citizens that vaccines we received are safe.
“We are happy to join nations that have started vaccination against covid19, as the best hope so far, to contain the disease. We received our first batch of almost 4 million covid-19 vaccines on Tuesday, 2nd March, through the COVAX facility, who committed doses equal to 20% of our population. We have an assurance of 16 million doses from Coxax by the end of this year.”
“I urge eligible persons to go for vaccination when called up after self-, or assisted registration or otherwise. We closely monitor reports from other countries nevertheless, and stay constantly in touch with WHO and our experts.
Dr. Ehinare however expreased dismay in the slight increase in case fatality rate in the last few weeks, apparently due perhaps to the fact that patients may be reporting later for treatment than initially.
“It is my hope that citizens not lose their fear of this terrible disease and do not take needless risks in handling it. Hesitation in seeking help exposes patients to dangers and reduces chances of better results. Those who test positive and feel ill are therefore advised to report to a treatment centre promptly, while persons in home-based care should strictly take advice from their case managers.
“The global covid19 trend is still not predictable, so we have learnt not to trust all forecasts we get. Surveillance at our points of entry, tracking, tracing and public health measures must be upheld to counter complacency, which often led to 3rd or even 4th wave of covid in few countries. It is particularly important in view of the outbreak of Ebola in Guinea, which has thankfully, not spread further, but must not be allowed to complicate matters for us.
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