Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, on Thursday received his first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
The personal physician to the governor, Dr Mike Enyinnaya, administered the vaccine to him at the Government House in Umuahia, the state capital.
In his remarks after receiving the vaccine, the governor encouraged all residents of the state within the recommended age bracket to avail themselves of the opportunity of being vaccinated.
He took the jab after he took delivery of the official consignment of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine to Abia State from the Federal Government.
“I’m happy to announce that I received a shot of the AstraZeneca vaccination against COVID-19 today in Umuahia.
“I was vaccinated alongside some other top government officials paving the way for other Abians (state residents) to also be inoculated against the virus,” the governor said on his Twitter handle.
He added, “I assure (you) that the vaccine is safe and beneficial in the continued fight against coronavirus. I encourage Abians to make themselves available for the vaccination at the nearest centre.”
I’m happy to announce that I received a shot of the AtraZeneca vaccination against COVID-19 today in Umuahia.
I was vaccinated alongside some other top government officials paving the way for other Abians to also be inoculated against the virus…
— Okezie Ikpeazu (@GovernorIkpeazu) March 11, 2021
Governor Ikpeazu took the vaccine following the assurance of the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of Abia State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Chinagozie Adindu, that the vaccine was safe for use.
Dr Adindu explained that after the first dose, those vaccinated would receive another shot in the next two months between eight and 12 weeks.
He said the quantity would be enough for the frontline health workers, and other health workers in the state – both in public and private hospitals, as well as members of the State COVID-19 Inter-Ministerial Task Force and law enforcement agencies, among others.
The healthcare agency chief noted that the second batch of the vaccines would target the vulnerable and those that have underlining ailments and the elderly.
He added that the state government has a target of ensuring that at least 40 per cent of the population in Abia was vaccinated by the end of the year.
