Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr Vincent Okpala has confirmed receipt of 78,810 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines in the state.

The Commissioner made the confirmation at the state’s cold store at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital (COOTH), Amaku, Awka.

The state took delivery of the vaccines on Wednesday night at Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, before moving them to the cold store for storage.

Meanwhile, the speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Uche Okafor, some commissioners and traditional rulers in the state, on Thursday received the vaccine, under the supervision of the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano.

The governor who first inspected the vaccines at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH) confirmed that the vaccines are safe, adding that they can help keep the people alive from the scourges of COVID-19.

“We have received the first consignment of the COVID-19 vaccines. We received about 78,000 doses and we are going to receive the second one soon. You know each vaccine is taken in tranches. There is the first and second tranche.

“To make sure whoever gets the first jab also gets the second, we will give half of the total consignment, and reserve half of it, which we will give in the second tranche so that those who get the first, will also get the second.

“This vaccine will save your life from the COVID-19. I have taken my own, so the speaker (House of Assembly), traditional rulers, CMD of COOUTH and commissioners will get theirs now, as a sign for people to know that the vaccine is safe.

“Another set of people that will get the vaccine first are heath workers in the frontline. Both doctors and cleaners alike, who work in the frontline of the pandemic will get the jab, first.

“I have been vaccinated and there are no side effects. Again, I must warn that even when you get the vaccine, you must still wear your mask and do all the things you are doing now, like social distancing and washing your hands regularly until many more people have been vaccinated,” Obiano said.

He urged citizens of the state to go online and register to get the vaccine administered on them, saying that in the coming days, the state government would flood the media with procedures for getting registered.

DailyPost