Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State on Wednesday received his first shot of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

Fayemei made the disclosure on his verified Twitter account alongside photos of the inoculation and his vaccination card.

“Took my first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine today as we flagged off vaccination in Ekiti State. I haven’t experienced any side effect. I encourage our people to take the vaccine,” the governor wrote.

Speaking further during the flag-off of COVID-19 vaccination in the state capital – Ado Ekiti, on Wednesday, Fayemi urged Ekiti residents shun rumours and conspiracy theories about the vaccines.

Fayemi allayed the fears of the people by stating that “all hands must be on deck to ensure all indigenes know that the vaccine is safe.”

He noted that “the vaccines have been stress tested, with clinical trials conducted to guarantee their safety for humans,” adding that the National Food Drugs Administration and Control – NAFDAC declared the vaccines safe after a series of tests and analysis.

The First Lady of Ekiti State, Bisi Fayemi, Deputy Governor Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, and the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Funminiyi Afuye, have received a dose of the vaccine.

Others include the Attah of Aiyede Ekiti, Oba Abdulmumin Orisagbemi; the Permanent Secretary, Hospital Management Board and COVID-19 Case Management Lead, Dr Williams Afolabi; as well as some frontline health workers.