The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has reassured Lagosians on safety of the COVID-19 vaccine, just as he maintained that the Lagos State Government will ensure that residents get vaccinated.
Abayomi made this known on “City Talks with Reuben Abati” on Saturday where he reiterated the benefits of getting the COVID-19 vaccine, saying “Once you get the vaccine, you have immunity to the virus”.
According to him, although the vaccination comes with few side effects which include fever, fatigue, headache, muscle pain and chills, these effects are mild and can be suppressed with a good night’s rest. He added that contrary to claims, among over 40,000 people who have received the vaccines, nobody has developed a blood clot.
Professor Abayomi said the vaccine is accompanied by security to account for the vial, accountability and a cold chain to ensure Lagosians are not put at risk due to corrupt practices.
He affirmed that the focus on COVID-19 has not in any way affected the process of tackling other health issues, noting that during the first wave of the virus, healthcare provision was absolutely free and more people were able to get treatment at health centres and general hospitals across the State.
The Commissioner said one of the measures put in place by the present administration to ensure there is no collateral damage from the COVID-19 is that the containment of the virus has been centralised to designated isolation centres, while primary health centres and general hospitals have been charged with the responsibility of taking care of other health-related issues.
He averred that the government is putting more into the health sector by developing multiple strategies to put resources and infrastructure at the disposal of health responders so that Nigerian doctors can have a place where they can work conveniently and comfortably.
Abayomi said that anyone under the age of 18 years is not vaccinated because generally young people are resilient to the virus, stressing that anyone who is unwell is advised not to take the vaccine until they get well from the present ailment.
“We are majorly worried about elderly people particularly those who have underlying medical conditions”, he added.