Expert warns Nigeria on needs to tackle third wave of COVID-19

A Nigerian Professor of virology has warned Nigerians on needs to take adequate precautionary measures to tackle the third wave of COVID-19.

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Professor Oyewale Tomori, said the only solution to curtail the virus was for the people to get vaccinated, adding that there was nothing wrong about the vaccine being produced in less than 18 months.

The expert, while speaking on the topic, ‘COVID-19 vaccines: the science, the myths, the facts at the 2021 annual scientific conference and workshop held at Babcock University, ilisan Remo Ogun State, South West Nigeria said the testing rate currently done by Nigeria was not good enough.

“I am saying with the nature of our great country, with the way we are behaving, the third wave is coming because we are part of a country which does not have respect for those intervention. Go outside and find out who is wearing a mask except for those of us that are here before the camera. When there is no camera before us, how many of us will be wearing the mask?

“Even in countries abroad where they abide by the measures, they are still battling with the third wave.

Professor Tomori said further that vaccines and herbal are two different things, pointing out that herbal products are different from vaccines.

“ In few years from now, Nigeria will be able to produce vaccines locally.

“I think we need to get NAFDAC involved first to do a proper analysis of the so-call product.

“When Ebola emerged, these same people said there are products that could cure Ebola and every herbal products should be monitored properly and check them for safety reasons”.

He therefore appealed to Nigerian citizen to obtain their second dose of Covid-19 vaccines because that will ensure full immunity, adding that the first dose will not give factual immunity but it is better off with the full immunity.

“That’s why Nigerians should go and get their second dose” he submitted.

According to the Ogun state Comissioner for health, Dr. Tomi Coker the State has always been prepared for the third wave of Covid-19.

“the State has established few isolation centers and also two laboratories and they are functioning. We have been able to curtail the outbreak in Ogun State.

“What we tend to do now is to test the community at the primary health care center and also encourage people to access vaccination there.

“There will not be a situation where people will not obtain the first dose without having the second dose.

“What we have now is the first batch which came into the country. The 4 million has already been exhausted in the country. However, other batches of vaccines are expected in the country in the next couple of weeks.

“Those who have obtained the first dose, will be reinvited to have the second dose. Ahead of all this, there will be sensitization accross the media and it would encourage the citizens to come out and get the completed dose of the vaccines” she affirmed.