Anambra Government has begun administration of the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to protect the state residents against the pandemic.

The state government on March 10 had received 78,810 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Abuja and commenced a state-wide vaccination on March 18.

However, flagging off the second dose campaign in Awka on Friday, Gov. Willie Obiano urged residents who participated in the first vaccination to endeavour to take the second jab to complete their dosage.

Obiano who was represented by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Vincent Okpala, said that the government was determined to ensure successful COVID-19 vaccination.

“The vaccination commenced effectively from June 1 to July 10 at designated health facilities.

“We have an average of two vaccination centres per Local Government Area (LGA).

“While these locations will be displayed at the LGA immunization offices, residents can also call the Anambra State Public Health Emergency Operation to get updates on designated vaccination locations.

“We urge all stakeholders at various levels in the state to support in sensitizing their subjects about the benefits and importance of completing their vaccination.

“Also, vaccination is not a substitute for discontinuation of observation of COVID-19 protocols,” he said.

Obiano applauded the state health team and partners including NPHCDA, World Health Organization, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund and Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, for making the vaccination possible.

In a related development, Secretary of Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Chioma Ezenyimulu, stated that about 33,691 people had been vaccinated since March 18.

According to Ezenyimulu, the number represented 86 per cent of the target population for the first dose.

“Now, we are rolling out the second dose and we urge residents to turn out en-mass to be fully vaccinated as they are now sure of total immunity after taking the second dose.

“The duration time from the first to second dose is between six to 12 weeks. Anybody who has taken the first dose and it is up to six weeks, is free to come for the second dose,’’ Ezenyimulu said.

NAN