The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Adeleke Olorunimbe Mamora on Monday explained that his absence at the vaccination of Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 members was not a calculated attempt to avoid inoculation.

While stating that the PTF was aware of his itinerary, Mamora stated that his absence should not be misconstrued as a deliberate attempt to avoid being vaccinated.

He attributed his absence to his official engagement in Lagos.

Addressing newsmen during the unveiling of the Next Generation Sequencing at Nigeria Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, the minister explained that he was unable to participate at the weekly briefing because of the engagement.

“Let nobody speculate that Mamora is running away from vaccination. I am not afraid because I am not one of the peddlers of conspiracy theories. I am a strong advocate of vaccines,” he said.

He also took a swipe at people peddling conspiracy theories and dissuading people from receiving the vaccine.

“Some people have lost loved ones yet some elements are going about saying there is no COVID-19.

“First, they are desecrating the memory of those who have lost ones or died as a result of the virus. Secondly, it is a disservice to frontline healthcare workers who stake their lives that all may be saved,” he warned.

The Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Prof. Babatunde Salako, said although vaccines were now available around the world, the continuous mutation of the virus forming new strains and variants of concern had made the development of new vaccines inevitable.

“The importance of the next-generation sequencing machine in this era of COVID-19 pandemic cannot be overemphasised. The world has grappled with one of the highest mortalities and morbidity incidences in the history of mankind.

“Furthermore, the ability of the SARS-COV-2 virus to mutate by changing its dynamics and possibly evade available vaccines and therapeutics have put the world under pressure to conduct massive parallel sequencing of the virus is making vital public health decision,” he said