COVID-19: Lagos vaccinates 257,756 people

At least 257,756 eligible people have received the first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Lagos State.

The state Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, in a statement on Wednesday noted that the figure was recorded as of April 15.

According to the Commissioner, those vaccinated include health workers, as well as frontline workers such as security officials, ports of entry staff, judiciary, petrol station workers, contingency workers, and strategic leaders.

He explained that the government went a step further to vaccinate willing pensioners, people aged 70 and above, teachers, and journalists during the same period.

He added that the government has concluded the first half of phase one of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, in line with the directive of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA).

The Commissioner, who noted that the exercise began on March 12, also said the first phase, which took an average of 20 days, followed the Federal Government’s directive to stop vaccination once half of the consignment had been administered to ensure the second doses were administered.

“This will ensure that at least one per cent of Lagos residents receive the full complement of doses required to enable the protection the vaccine promises. The target to achieve effective herd immunity is vaccination of at least 60 per cent of the Lagos State population.

“The exercise lapsed on Tuesday, April 13. Consequently, the government has shut down all its vaccination centres,” he said.