More than 60 thousand people will receive the first and second jabs of the Moderna vaccines in Cross River State, south-south Nigeria.
READ ALSO: COVID-19: Nigeria kicks-off second phase of vaccination today
Also, 11,448 people would be given their second jabs of the Astrazeneca vaccines in the state.
The Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Janet Ekpenyong told Voice of Nigeria that the vaccines were received at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport last Friday.
Administering Moderna
Ekpenyong further said that the vaccination exercise was flagged off by the Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Betta Edu at a Primary Healthcare Centre in Calabar.
Ekpenyong said of the vaccines, “this is the first time we are receiving the Moderna vaccines. The first one got was Astrazeneca and it was just the first jab. But, we received 105,000 doses of Moderna, which is for 60,000 people only.
“The vaccines are first and second jabs. The first would be administered to the people within twenty days and since we already have the second doses of Moderna, those would be administered to people, who received their first after three weeks.
“From previous experiences we have had, we may surpass the number of people to be vaccinated because Cross River may likely get additional doses from states that do not have a good turnout for the vaccines. Like I said that was what we experienced with the Astrazeneca vaccines,” she said.
Observing protocols
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Betta Edu urged residents to constantly observe COVID-19 protocol at home, offices, schools, market places and more.
Dr. Edu noted that Nigeria was already experiencing the third wave of the COVID-19 virus, stating “people should come out enmasse and get vaccinated as we are presently in the third wave of the pandemic in the state.”
According to her, “the number of confirmed cases through the PCR is rising. So, it is important for people to come out for vaccination immediately. Beyond that, we must continue to observe all the COVID-19 protocols.”
She explained that the people, have died from the virus were those who did not receive any vaccination, noting “the vaccines would prevent death. The earlier people respond, the better for the state and country.”
The flag off exercise involved the administration of the vaccines to some people, who converged on the PHC in Calabar.
