COVID-19: Northern Govs To Take Vaccine in Public

The 19 Northern States’ Governors have agreed to take the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine when they arrive in the country.

Chairman of the forum and governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, made the disclosure in his address at a webinar organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, where the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine were discussed.

The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Danladi Atu, said in a bid to take away fears and controversies surrounding the vaccines, “We – the Northern Governors – have agreed to take the first doses of the vaccines.”

In his presentation, Executive Director National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Faisal Shu’aibu, and Prof. Abdulsalam Nasidi, a pioneer epidemiologist gave insight into the efficacy of the vaccines.

Shuaibu also disclosed that the projection is that 70 percent of Nigerians would be vaccinated over the period of two years, adding that the first phase is that 40 percent of the population would be vaccinated while in the second phase, 39 percent of the population is expected to be vaccinated.

Prof. Clara Ejembi of the Department of Community Medicine of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, stressed the need for people to continue to practise preventive measures.