Edo State government has launched a new campaign plan to boost immunity against COVID-19 in the state.
Launching the campaign tagged “Scales 3.0 Strategy for accelerating COVID-19 Vaccination,” at Ugbor Primary Health Care Centre in Oredo Local Government Area on Thursday (September 15), the state Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu reiterated that the health and well-being of Edo people remains topmost priority of government agenda
The Deputy Governor who was represented by the Commissioner for health Prof.Obehi Akoria assured that Covid-19 vaccines are safe, potent and effective. He therefore urged those who are yet to complete their doses to do so as special mobile vaccination team will be at public strategic locations for easy access.
In her speech, Health Commissioner, Prof. Akoria appealed to community leaders to give maximum support to the campaign, which she said is designed to achieve the state government’s goal of building herd immunity against the COVID virus.
She noted that the scales 3.0 strategy covers a three (3) months vaccination campaign plan that will accelerate Covid-19 vaccination coverage across the eighteen (18) Local Government Areas of the state, by identifying unique enablers and deploying specific strategies that will also ramp-up routine immunization and other primary health care services.
Prof .Akoria said the flag off ceremony is to officially launch the commencement of important programmes to provide opportunities for stakeholders of the campaign to come together and give public demonstration of acceptance and endorsement for the exercise, thereby boosting the confidence of the populace in the activities.
She encouraged eligible persons not yet vaccinated to take advantage of the campaign and get vaccinated while those partially vaccinated should also ensure they complete their shots as partial vaccination does not offer full protection.
The Acting Executive Secretary, Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Gideon Iraoyah in his welcome address, noted that everyone is at risk of contracting the Corona Virus because COVID-19 affects all ages and classes of people, hence, the Scales 3.0 strategy aims at achieving seventy (70%) percent coverage by the end of 2022.
Dr. Iraoyah further explained that, COVID-19 is a viral disease caused by an emerging stain of corona virus known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 which belongs to the family of Corona Viruses. He also urged those who are partially vaccinated to complete their doses as partial vaccination is not a guarantee for covid-19 protection.
Also speaking in an interview at the flag off ceremony, Dr. Efemena Onowugbeda, Edo State Coordinator, World Health Organization (WHO), said that the aim of scales 3.0 is to get Edo people vaccinated and be protected against corona virus, adding that WHO is fully in support of the campaign plan.
The climax of the event was the vaccination of invitees who had been partially vaccinated and those who are yet to be vaccinated, closely monitored by the Health Commissioner, Prof. Akoria.
