The Buhari administration has finally cleared the air on whether or not, Nigerians would be mandated to take covid-19 vaccines.
Speaking through the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnibe Mamora, the Federal Government said while it would be up to Nigerians to decide whether or not to take the jab, it would however, appeal that they do so for their own good.
Mamora made the disclosure, on Friday, in Asaba, while fielding questions from newsmen shortly after he inaugurated some projects at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba.
His comment followed a reporter’s question on why Kogi was yet to take delivery of the vaccine even though most states in the federation had received the vaccine.
However, Mamora was quick to point out that Kogi was not ready to take delivery of the vaccine, while the Federal Government would not compel any state to do so.
“Kogi lacked storage facilities for cold chain, security, logistics and personnel to administer the vaccines.
“Also, let me state clearly here that from the onset, the Federal Government made it clear that it will not force anyone to take the vaccine, but rather will continue to appeal to people in their own interests."
On the suspension of the vaccine in some European countries, Mamora said it might be political, insisting that the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine was safe and efficient.
He said: “One thing I will say as a personal opinion which I am not afraid to express is I won’t be surprised if politics is involved because of Brexit and what have you.
“But that is not the most important thing, the most important thing is that even the European Medicine Agency has come out to say the vaccine is safe and efficient. That is the most important thing.
“If you have given close to 20 million vaccinations and you have maybe less than 20,000, what percentage of the over 20 million is the 20,000? That is infinitesimal’’, the minister said.
Mamora further noted that every drug was a potential poison, saying that “when you give a drug or a vaccine, it is because you have weighed the therapeutic advantages against the side effects.
”If the balance tilts in favour of the advantage, you will go for it as a clinician or medical doctor, adding that it’s the situation with the AstraZeneca vaccine”, Mamora said.