C'River State Government introduces Moderna Covid-19 Vaccines as State Set to vaccinate Over 60,000 Eligible Adults

 

The Cross River State Government have introduced the Moderna Covid-19 Vaccines as a measure to curb Covid-19 related deaths with an estimated target of ober 60,000 eligible adults.

The introduction which was part of  activities to mark the flag off cermony of the second phase of Covid-19 Vaccination is expected to run for twenty days with eligible adults from the ages of 18 years and above advised to get vaccinated.

Flagging off the exercise, State Commissioner for Health, Dr Betta Edu thanked  the state Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, for providing support as well as the health workers for ensuring the state achieve maximum coverage of the target population during the first round of the exercise.

Dr Edu urged residents of the state to come out enmass for vaccination rather than viewing the pandemic as a fiasco.

"if we must achieve herd immunity,  it's important all eligible adults get vaccinated, the vaccines are safe and free and should be embraced by all".

In her remarks,  the Director General of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Janet Ekpenyong, stated that a total of 105,000 doses of Mordena and 11,448 doses of Astrazeneca have been sent to the state based on the estimated number of eligible adults across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state.

She noted that, with the new strain of the virus, mutation is inevitable hence the need to get vaccinated and maintain string immunity against the virus.

Dr Ekpenyong further noted that, with the Astrazenca vaccines administered to over 60,000 eligible adults in the first round of the exercise and the high demand for vaccines, government thought it wise to boost supply of Vaccines , hence the availability of the Moderna vaccine and the astrazenca vaccine. 

She said, after careful observation of the vaccine, no adverse events to Vaccination have been recorded as she further called on all residents within the eligible age bracket to get themselves vaccinated to save themselves and their loved ones.

"Since Saturday when we introduced the Moderna vaccines in Cross River State, we have continued to observe for strange Adverse Events due to Vaccination and gladly, none have been recorded, this shows that both the Astrazeneca and the Moderna are as effective as every other vaccines used globally.

I want to encourage everyone to come out and get vaccinated in order to protect themselves and their loved ones from the virus.

I want to assure you all of a viable vaccine which is effective and healthy for us all, as we speak, deployment of the vaccines are already in place to all Local Government Areas".

In her earlier remarks, the state immunization officer, Joy Chabo, stated that the state recieved the highest number of vaccines in the South South, because of its impressive performance during the last phase of the vaccination.

The immunization officer maintained that even though Delta variant has not yet been found in the state, it’s an opportunity for people to come out for vaccination to ensure the state has immunity.

Also speaking, the World Health Organization, WHO, representative, Dr. Pella Umar, lauded the zeal of the state in fighting the virus, which ensured it recorded 117 per cent coverage during the first round.

He called on all to embrace the vaccination so as to boost the immunity of the entire population by at least 95 per cent.

The second phase of the Covid-19 Vaccination exercise is expected to last for 20 days with both vaccines (Moderna and Astrazeneca) comprising of two shots each.

Those  who have had their first jab of the astrazeneca vaccine encouraged to present themselves for the second jab at the nearest Primary Healthcare Centre around them.