By Tina George, Minna
The Niger State Ministry of Health says is currently monitoring 200 people that have been vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine in for adverse reactions.
Investigation by ASHENEWS reveals that the vaccination has been halted to allow monitoring of those that have taken the vaccine, under the monitoring is termed under the “Advance Effect Following Immunization (AEFI)” and “Advance Effect of Special Interest (AESI)” evaluation, to see if there is adverse effects.
ASHENEWS further gathered that although the ministry rolled out the vaccines to local government councils on Tuesday, primary healthcare centres, PHCs, had been directived to halt innoculation until the 200 people so far vaccinated were fully monitored.
The state received 74,110 doses of the vaccines in which 500 people have been vaccinated so far in Minna, the state capital as the vaccination is yet to begin in local government councils.
Those vaccinated include the governor, members of the State Executive Council, wife of the governor and officials of the wife of the governor’s office, members of the Government House Protocol and Press crew, Permanent Secretaries, Head of Agencies and Government Departments.
Others include officials and managers of COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine centres, the State Primary Healthcare frontline workers, local government directors of PHCs and core chain officers who are the monitors of the vaccine program.
Some health workers in the state capital who spoke to ASHENEWS, alleged that the vaccination had been highjacked by the high and mighty in the state.
They wonder why those in the Governor and Governor’s wife entourage should first be vaccinated before the health workers.
The health workers also claimed that they went to some of the designated centres to take vaccines but discovered that although the vaccines were available, there were no vaccination cards on ground.
“How can there be vaccines on ground but there are no cards? Does that mean that some people took the cards and didn’t take the vaccine? These need to be looked into”, one of the health workers who pleaded anonymity told ASHENEWS.
Efforts to speak with the Executive Director of the Niger state Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Ibrahim Dangana proved abortive.
He sent a text message that he was busy but directed our reporter to speak to his Media Aide who did not also pick the call.
When ASHENEWS called the Commissioner of Health, Dr Mohammad Makunsidi, until the call rang out, he did not respond.
However, one of the members of the Niger state COVID-19 Taskforce, Mohammed Mohammed explained that the vaccination program was deployed into four phases.
“Phase one target the front line and essential workers. Political office holders are part of the essential workers and healthcare workers are the front line. Phase two targets people of 50 years and above, these are senior citizens of the State.
“Phase three targets people of 18 to 49 years of age with commorbidity of illness that can enhance COVID-19 case. And phase four is targets people of all ages and status”, he explained.
