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General News of Saturday, 9 January 2021

Source: www.mynigeria.com

Coronavirus: Governors to join Buhari, Osinbajo to take Pfizer vaccine publicly

Chairman of Nigeria’s Governors’ Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has indicated the readiness of the 36 State Governors to join President Buhari and Vice president Osinbajo on live television to receive the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine.

Speaking to journalists after a closed-door meeting with President Buhari in Abuja on Friday, Mr. Fayemi said this move is to encourage the Nigerian populace in accepting the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine.

“We too will like to demonstrate to our citizens that we believe that vaccines will work.

“The Governors’ Forum managed the polio vaccines administration in the country and we have garnered a lot of experience.

“We have worked with the Primary Healthcare Development Agency and the Federal Ministry of Health.

“We will be happy to work with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Presidential Task Force (PTF) and the Primary Healthcare Development Agency on this as well.

“So, we would take a lead as well in our various states,” Mr. Fayemi said.

According to reports by the News Agency of Nigeria, the country intends to get 42 million COVID-19 vaccines to cover one-fifth of its population through the global COVAX scheme.

The first batch of the vaccines would be distributed to 40 per cent of the population in 2021 and another 30 per cent in 2022 with 100,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine expected to arrive by the end of January 2021.

Mr Fayemi who also doubles as the Ekiti State Governor applauded the PTF on COVID-19 for taking the decision to use the president and the vice president as examples to reassure persons in doubt of taking the vaccine.

“But the good thing is that Mr President has agreed with me that he would convey to the PTF the necessity of using other influencers.

“Maybe the Chief Imams, the Bishops, top musicians and our sports personalities.

“The more of such people are seen taking the vaccines, the more the likelihood of resistance breaks down in our various localities,” Fayemi said.

He hinted that discussions are ongoing to begin manufacturing of the vaccines locally.

“There is nothing as good as having the ability to manufacture our own vaccines locally.

“It is important for the Federal Government to really accelerate so that we can produce the vaccines here in Nigeria and not be dependent on what is coming from other parts,“ Fayemi noted.