COVID-19 vaccine: FCT minister takes second jab, urges residents to take second dose

By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Malam Muhammad Musa Bello yesterday  received the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, at the Area 11 office of the FCTA as he urged residents to follow suit.

 Also taking their second shots alongside the Minister were the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola, the Chief of Staff to the Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu, the Ag Secretary of the Health and Human Services Secretariat Dr Muhammed Kawu and other staff of the FCTA.

Speaking after his vaccination, the Minister recalled that he took the first jab on Thursday, the 11^th of March, 2021 and was now due to receive the second dose of the vaccine as prescribed by the public health officials.

He noted that  98% of the doses of the COVID-19 vaccine allocated to the Territory have been utilized and commended residents of the FCT for their response to the vaccination efforts of the government.

He called on all those who are yet to be vaccinated to do same as he said that  it was only through vaccination that herd immunity can be achieved. 

The Minister said, “Whatever, support  the Federal Government is giving to us in the FCT, let’s grab it and use it effectively because, unless we get a substantial percentage of our population fully vaccinated, then we will not reach what the public health officials call herd immunity whereby we can say that the incidence of this particular disease has been conquered.”

He expressed happiness that while the number of positive cases in the FCT has been on a steady decline, in spite of the large number of residents being tested, residents must not be complacent but should continue to take measures to protect themselves against the virus.

The Minister also assured that the FCT Administration will continue to work hard to ensure that every resident is protected against COVID-19, with the efforts of the FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat.

He thereafter called on officials of the HHSS to continue to work to maintain all the facilities that have been established and installed for the purpose of the pandemic, to ensure that the FCT is fully prepared for any unforeseen event.

Present at the vaccination centre were officials of the WHO, NCDC, UNICEF and other staff of the FCTA.