Governor Fayemi flags off COVID-19 vaccines in Ekiti

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has received his dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday during the flag off ceremony of the vaccination exercise in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

The State Government, through the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani took the delivery of the vaccine from the Federal Government on Tuesday and has immediately map out distribution plan to ensure citizens of the state are duly vaccinated against the Coronavirus Pandemic.

The Permanent Secretary Hospital Management Board and Covid 19 Case Management Lead, Dr Williams Afolabi became the first Health Worker in Ekiti State to receive the vaccine.

It is recalled that the Governor Fayemi administration had earlier in January 2021, procured 187 Solar Direct Drive Cold Chain Equipment to facilitate uninterrupted availability and distribution of vaccines (including #COVID19 vaccine) in their optimal storage temperature and quality in Ekiti State.

Also, Governor Fayemi’s administration had put in place measures to ensure that residents have equitable access to the vaccine.

Ekiti State was one of the very few states to strengthen citizens testing capacity by procuring a Molecular Laboratory in addition to mobilizing eminent citizens under the Rapid Response Mobilization Committee (RRMC) which raised about $3Million used to fund some critical infrastructure and social needs to support the fight against the pandemic.

“The availability of Covid-19 vaccines and its global distribution is a development that should gladden the hearts of all of us. The vaccines have been stress tested, with clinical trials conducted to guarantee its safety for humans. Our own NAFDAC has also subjected the vaccines to multiple tests and analysis and affirmed that they are not injurious in any form to the people. This explains why the vaccines have been made available to Nigerians to fight this killer disease.”, the Governor said.

He urged the citizens to disregard any unfounded theories about the efficacy and effects of the vaccines on them saying “we should not introduce unnecessary sentiments to the health and well-being of our people for whatever reasons.

In his remarks, Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Banji Filani, disclosed that Risk Communications officials are currently being trained to tackle misinformation across the 16 LGAs of the state ahead of the rollout of the vaccines in Ekiti.

“Dr. Williams Mobolaji Afolabi, COVID-19 Case Management Pillar Lead/Permanent Secretary, Hospital Management Board became the first health worker in Ekiti State to receive the vaccine right after the principal officers. The vaccination campaign is designed in phases to ensure equitable access to the vaccine across the entire state, while prioritising our frontline health workers”, He said.

The Wife of the Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Funminiyi Afuye and a representative of the State Council of Traditional Rulers/ Attah of Aiyede-Ekiti, HRM Oba Abdulmumin Orisagbemi and some members of the public also received the vaccine at a brief ceremony, at the Fajuyi Pavillion, Ado-Ekiti.

Ekiti continues to lead as a model sub-national government with integrated and holistic responses to tackle COVID-19 and cushion its economic impact on the people.