Any resident of Ogun State who refuses to be vaccinated against COVID-19 would risk being barred from government offices, schools, markets and public transport.
This according to the State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, is part of measures to flatten the curve of the pandemic in the state, with the flagging off the mass vaccination campaign against COVID-19.
Abiodun, who was in the company of the Exexutive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, at the event held at the Arcade Ground, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, said the state has concluded plans on mass vaccination of its residents against the virus.
According to him, evidence of full vaccination would be required of anybody who wants to do business with the government and for entry into government offices, schools, and market places after January 1, 2022.
He said unvaccinated residents are expected to get their jabs in the 60-day window, adding that the state is targeting more than 2m people from the age of 18 and above to vaccinate.
The governor said: “We are going to give a window to allow for this vaccination exercise and that window starts from today till the next 60 days.”
“Anybody after 60 that is not vaccinated will not be allowed in our offices, will not be allowed in our schools, will not be allowed in our markets, will not be allowed to do business with us. You will be required to carry your vaccines card with you at all times.
“Such persons will not be allowed to do business with us. We will chase this person in our markets, you will be required to carry your vaccine cards with you at all times.
“If you don’t have a card like this, you will not come to our secretariat, we will not do business with you, we will not allow ‘Okada’ to carry you, we will not allow the taxi to carry you, you will not be allowed in our Market. We will enforce this card. To be forewarned is to be forearmed,” he said.
He disclosed that the state has increased vaccine centres from 131 to 509 to allow eligible residents to have access to the vaccination.
According to him, the vaccination exercise would take place between November 1 and December 25th this year.
Abiodun, recalled that the index case of the pandemic was discovered in the state, saying his administration’s swift response mechanism helped in combating the disease within Ogun despite its proximity to Lagos, which is the epicenter of COVID-19.
He stated that the vaccination campaign is being conducted by the Ogun State Primary Health Care Development Board (OGPHECADEB) with the assistance of NPHCDA, admonishing the people to embrace the mass vaccination for of their lives and wellbeing against COVID-19.
In his remarks, Dr. Shuaib commended the state on the utilization of vaccines, adding that the campaign was imperative to avoid the next wave of the pandemic. He expressed confidence in the leadership of the State and the support of the people to achieve the set targets.
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, said the campaign is of part of efforts to stem the spread of the virus, especially during festive periods.
She said, “The mass vaccination campaign is part of efforts to rapidly ramp up coverage of fully vaccinated residents and fast track the return of the State’s economy to pre-Covid 19 level.
“Therefore, we need to intensify vaccination across all Local Government Areas in the State.”