COVID-19: Kwara strives for 70% vaccination coverage, says commissioner
The Kwara government says the state will continue to strive to achieve 70 per cent COVID-19 vaccination coverage to achieve herd immunity against the disease.
Raji Razaq, the state Commissioner for Health, said this during the SCALES 3.0 COVID-19 vaccination campaign on Monday in Ilorin.
Mr Razaq lamented that presently the state has only achieved 38 per cent coverage in COVID-19 vaccination out of the 70 per cent target.
“The pandemic is still with us and should not be taken with levity. Kwara is not comfortable with the present sixth position on efforts and achievement on COVID-19 vaccination.
“The state will strive and reach the first position and reach the 70 per cent target,” he said.
Mr Razaq pointed out that funding remains critical for achieving goals, while urging all stakeholders and partners to support the government in achieving the set objectives.
The commissioner disclosed that ad-hoc personnel have been recruited by the government, trained and deployed to all hard-to-reach areas of the state for an effective COVID-19 vaccine campaign.
Nusirat Elelu, the executive secretary of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, blamed hesitancy among state residents on COVID-19 vaccination for a recorded low COVID-19 vaccination campaign in the state.
She described the development as a huge challenge, adding that it slowed down the rate at which the agency wanted to cover and break the transmission of COVID-19 in the state.
“In the first year of the COVID-19, we had lots of hesitancy in terms of people hesitating to take the vaccines. It was a huge challenge. It slowed down the rate at which we wanted to cover and break the transmission of the COVID-19 in the state,” she said.
According to her, the state launched another campaign strategy which was the scale 2.0, meant to ramp up that coverage.
She added that the state government would deploy 592 teams of about 3,000 personnel for the campaign.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
States
Nigeria Customs Service intercepts 6,240 explosives in Kebbi
The customs boss noted that each dynamite explosive item could destroy a one-storey building.
Politics
Ondo 2024: Akeredolu’s former deputy, Agboola Ajayi, wins PDP ticket
Mr Agboola, a former deputy governor to late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, was elected at the PDP’s primary election on Thursday.
Port Harcourt
Burnt Rivers Assembly: Court sets aside arrest warrant against Fubara’s chief of staff
On January 31, the judge issued a warrant for the arrest of Mr Ehie over his alleged involvement in the burning of part of the Rivers’ House of Assembly.
Politics
Keyamo overreacting, should apologise, lift Dana’s flight suspension: ART
Aviation minister Festus Keyamo has been reprimanded for trying to usurp the authority of the NCAA.
NationWide
Merging Civil Defence with police will worsen Nigeria’s insecurity, FG warned
“It is obvious that persons seeking the merger are ignorant of the roles of NSCDC as a special purpose security vehicle,” a security expert said.
Africa
South Africa’s systemic corruption closely related to ex-President Jacob Zuma’s administration: Report
The report alleged that “high-level political interference has undermined the country’s National Prosecuting Authority from responding to corruption.