Covid-19: Gombe vaccinates 166,432 in first, second phases
No fewer than 166,432 doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered to residents of Gombe State in the first and second Coronavirus campaign.
Disclosing this on Thursday during a medical outreach/ Covid-19 Mass Vaccination , the State Deputy Governor Manassah Jatau said the launch is in line with the National activity aimed at improving the coverage of the Covid-19 vaccination across the country.
He revealed that since the Coronavirus pandemic the state had lost 58 persons due to Covid-19 complications, while urging citizens to take advantage of the free medical services towards reducing effects of Covid-19, other diseases.
According to him, The objective of National Health Development Agency in collaboration with the state government in launching the program is to further strengthen the states response activities against the disease by reducing the risk of infection of the existing variants of Covid-19 and it’s numerous variants, and it’s waves.
He said, “So far vaccination is the most promising ‘tool’ in protecting people from its unwanted effects. The strategy of mass vaccination adopted by the state is to ensure wider coverage and accessibility to the vaccine.
“The statistics of covid-19 as at 13th November, 2021 include, number of tested people,83,158, positive cases, 2,715, Cases treated and discharged, 2,640, Mortality, 58, representing 2.1%, Active Cases 18, and Number in ICU,( Intensive Care Unit) 1.
“The number of those that received first dose of Covid-19 is 99,781, and those who received the second dose are 66,651, pointing out that the figures represent 5% and 3% respectively of the target eligible population of Gombe State.”
The deputy governor who also doubles as the chairman of the Covid-19 management committee explained that the state’s Covid-19 Management Committee had earlier embarked on delivery service to the doors of the clients ,including places of worship adding that all schools, private hospitals, market places, business premises etc are now targeted to ensure that the greatest number of residents of the state benefit from the vaccine available.
“I’m uncomfortable, but must state that, this programme is starting in Balanga because records available to Covid-19 Management Committee shows that the Local Government Area has the highest number of reported cases.
“Balanga also has the greatest number of prevalence, refusal to submit for the Covid-19 test. This is unfortunate and concerned persons of Balanga and it lovers must see this as a challenge that must be addressed and now. All stakeholders must do whatever they can to ensure that this trend is reversed,” Jatau added.
Jatau advised against issuing Covid-19 vaccination card to people that have not undergone the test and vaccination, saying that it is criminal and appropriate sanctions would be applied once caught.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru said the exercise is part of effort to reach out to all those eligible to be vaccinated against the virus, stressing out that eligibility age is 18 years.
Dahiru while allaying the fears of the public on the potency of the vaccine, he pointed out that it is safe.
On his part, The Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Abdurahaman Shuaibu said the campaign vaccination was necessitated by the fact that response has always been very low, “as low as 5% of the population, government has a commitment to meet up with a target of 50% by January 2022, and 70% by December, 2022,” Shuaibu noted.
