EIGHT states have yet to start the vaccination of their citizens against COVID-19, one week after the launch of the exercise.
At least, 122,410 eligible Nigerians have, however, been vaccinated as of March 22, 2021 across the country since the exercise started.
These figures were contained in a document prepared by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, a copy of which our correspondent cited on Monday.
According to the document, the states yet to start vaccination as of Monday are Abia, Kebbi, Kogi, Niger, Oyo, Sokoto, Taraba and Zamfara.
The figure, which was compiled from the Electronic Management of Immunisation Data System Dashboard, showed that Lagos State had vaccinated the highest number of people with the state’s figure put at 36,009 citizens.
With the figure, the state described as the epicentre of the pandemic has reached 7.1 percent of target.
According to the document, Jigawa has vaccinated 19,226 with 28.1 percent of target reached; Bauchi has vaccinated 14,422; Ogun -9,765; Kaduna -7,099; Kwara -5,302; FCT -5,232; Nasarawa -5,133; Adamawa -4,150; Katsina -3,401; Osun -3,234; and Yobe -2,498.
Others are Akwa Ibom -55; Anambra -10; Bayelsa -358; Benue -65; Borno -2; Cross River -366; Delta -214; Ebonyi -8; Edo -1,267; Ekiti -67; and Enugu -277.
The remaining states are Gombe -158; Imo -706; Kano -1,495; Ondo -887; Plateau -305; and Rivers -699.
The Executive Director, NPHCDA, Faisal Shuaib, had during the weekly press briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 said the country had not recorded any adverse effect of the Oxford AstraZeneca on any of those vaccinated so far.
Shuaib said the agency was aware of a case of mishandling of vaccine recorded at the Police Clinic in Falomo, Lagos.
He assured all stakeholders that any person found culpable would be punished.
Shuaib also confirmed that the PTF had received 300,000 doses of vaccine from MTN Group as earlier promised by the firm.
Ishaku takes vaccine, says it’s safe
Meanwhile, Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, on Monday said the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine being rolled out in the country was safe and effective in the prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ishaku disclosed this shortly after taking the jab of the AstraZeneca vaccine at the flag-off of mass vaccination in Jalingo.
“From my findings, AstraZeneca COVID -19 vaccine is safe and 79 per cent protective of the virus. I have just taken my jab and I want to urge all the residents of the state to also do so as they say; prevention is better than cure,” he said.
Kogi Rep slams Adeyemi, Bello
However, a member of the House of Representatives, Mr Teejay Yusuf, has faulted the leader of the Kogi State Caucus in the National Assembly, Senator Smart Adeyemi, for backing Governor Yahaya Bello to dismiss coronavirus and the ongoing vaccination by the Federal Government.
Bello has repeatedly dismissed the COVID-19 pandemic as a ruse, while the Federal Government has also refused to allocate to Kogi, the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine procured and distributed to states.
Speaking with one of our correspondents on behalf of the caucus on Friday, Adeyemi had said all the 12 National Assembly members from Kogi were solidly behind Bello.
Yusuf, however, faulted Adeyemi when one of our correspondents asked if he agreed with the senator.
Kebbi starts vaccination
In another development, Kebbi State, on Monday, flagged off its COVID-19 vaccination with frontline health workers as the pioneer recipients of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.
The state Commissioner for Health and Chairman, State Task Force on COVID-19, Jafaru Muhammad, rolled out the vaccine on behalf of Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.
