The Kogi State Government on Monday went back on its words, saying the state is ready to administer the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to residents.
The state Commissioner for Health, Saka Haruna disclosed this on Monday, saying the state will take delivery of dosses of the Vaccine today, Tuesday, adding that residents will have unhindered access to receive the vaccine.
“We have done the micro-planning and everything has been completed with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.
“Anybody that is willing to receive the vaccine (will receive it); nobody is exempted. And nobody will be forced to receive the vaccine”, Haruna said.
The commissioner however cast doubts on whether the state Governor, Yahaya Bello and other government officials will receive the vaccine.
“The governor does not have to receive the vaccine before others will; I don’t think there is anything special about COVID that we have to bring the governor out to come and receive the vaccine,” he said.
Governor Bello has consistently cast doubts on the existence of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying it is political. He also vowed not to take the vaccine or subject residents to it.
“I’m not going to subject the people of Kogi State to vaccination; I will not make them guinea pigs”, Bello had said.
