About 27,000 residents in Enugu have so far received COVID-19 vaccines in the ongoing second phase of the nationwide vaccination programme.

Executive Secretary of Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ENS-PHCDA), George Ugwu, said residents got the Modena and AstraZeneca vaccines.

Mr Ugwu said the vaccination, which is ongoing side-by-side and simultaneously with other routine and special vaccinations in the state, had so far been hitch free.

He said more residents were more receptive to getting their jabs after being sensitised on the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine to families and communities.

“We have administered a total of 27,000 residents in the ongoing second phase and the exercise has been hitch-free and without any adverse health effects recorded.

“After the first phase, we restrategised on our communication and mobilisation plans and it is paying off.

“Our committees at state, zonal, local, community and ward levels have shown serious commitment and they spear no social gathering in heralding the need for all to get protected at the same time,” he said.

The State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi flagged off COVID-19 second phase vaccination at the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Enugu, on August 26.

The state has received 5,012 doses of Modena vaccine and additional 13,416 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines, and is expecting an additional 60,000 doses of Modena.

A total of 1,200 health workers have been specially trained to vaccinate people in the second phase of the exercise.

Enugu State had already exhausted the 65,410 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines supplied by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency in March, 2021 for the first phase of the vaccination.

(NAN)