The Commissioner of Health in the State of Osun, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu has said that health workers in the state would be first considered for the COVID-19 vaccines when it arrives the state.
Part of the prioritised people, according to Isamotu, are the elderly, as well as those with underlying health issues.
Isamotu stated that the government needed to make its priority list to achieve the purpose of the vaccines in line with the limited number of doses that would be given to the state.
The commissioner for health said other categories of people would be considered as the vaccines arrive.
According to reports, the Federal Government had said it was expecting 100,000 doses of Pfizer / BioNTech Coronavirus vaccines before the end of January.
However, in a document that contains the sharing formula of the vaccine by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, which OSUN DEFENDER is privy to, the State of Osun is expected to get 1 ,032 doses of the vaccines.
Speaking on the preparedness of the State Government to receive the vaccines, Isamotu said there is a mechanism in place for prompt dispensation of the vaccines when it eventually arrives.
He said: “We have our own Cold Chain refrigerators on ground to store the vaccine we are expecting from the Federal Government, which is said to arrive at the end of the month. We will ensure immediate dispensation of the vaccine once it arrives. The set of people we would first consider to receive the vaccine are the health workers, followed by the elderly people, the middle aged people who are diabetic, hypertensive and those with other ailments.”
Asked if Osun would follow Lagos and Oyo states which planned to buy COVID -19 vaccines to complement that of the Federal Government, Isamotu said: “For now, the Federal Government is procuring the vaccine but as time goes, private individuals or organisations may begin to procure and donate to governments.”
