COVID-19: Bayelsa Launches Third Round Of Vaccination

Bayelsa started the third round of COVID-19 vaccination in Yenagoa on Tuesday and urged residents to make themselves available for immunisation.

Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the deputy governor, dispelled rumours that the vaccines are unsafe.

The deputy governor, who chairs the State Taskforce on Immunisation, said the government’s target was to take the vaccination coverage in Bayelsa to at least 70 per cent in the short run.

Ewhrudjakpo reminded stakeholders not to take their attention off routine immunisation and primary healthcare coverage, even as the COVID-19 vaccination is being scaled up.

“I thank all the stakeholders and our partners – the WHO, UNICEF, Corona Management Systems, the Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) and others for taking the campaign to this level.

“We thank the COVID-19 partners for making the vaccines available.

“As we launch the COVID-19 Scale 3.0 Strategy Vaccination Campaign, we need to remind ourselves that all the negative things about COVID-19 vaccinations have been proved wrong.

“Initially, it was scary and even mystical, but finally it has been demystified and has become an ordinary thing we had expected it to be.

“From the last statement made here by the WHO representative, it is clear that the vaccines are working. If they were not working, the rate of mortality would have gone beyond what we have today.

“We need to put more effort than we are doing now.

“While we are talking about COVID-19 vaccination, we must not forget to also talk about routine immunisation and primary healthcare coverage,’’ Ewhrudjakpo said.

Speaking, Commissioner for Health, Dr Pabara Igwele, said the COVID-19 Scales 3.0 Strategy Vaccination Campaign was being conducted nationwide.

He encouraged the people of Bayelsa to take advantage of the current round to get vaccinated.