Bayelsa State government has called on people of the state to take the Covid-19 vaccine as part of the pharmaceutical measures to check the spread and mortality rate of the pandemic.
Governor Douye Diri who made the call during the state Flag-off Ceremony for Covid-19 vaccination in Government House, Yenagoa, promised that his administration would continue to give priority attention to the health sector.
Represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the governor lauded the Federal Government and the various development agencies for their role in ensuring that the vaccine gets to Nigeria and Bayelsa State in particular.
A press release by the Senior Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor on Media, Mr. Doubara Atasi, quoted him as saying the state takes the vaccination seriously due to its conviction that there cannot be prosperity without good health.
He said his administration’s commitment to healthcare development informed government’s decision to deploy its scarce resources towards curtailing the spread of the virus in the state during the peak of the infection.
Governor Diri assured that the state government would ensure that the Vaccination Programme succeeds and therefore called on Bayelsans to avail themselves of the vaccine as its benefits far outweigh the perceived side effects.
The state Chief Executive also lauded the State Covid-19 Taskforce and health workers who have been on the frontline to check the spread of the virus.
He said the state government has directed the completion of all referral hospitals across the state in furtherance of its desire to improve the wellbeing of Bayelsans, urging the people not to drop their guards even with the availability of the vaccine but continually observe all Covid-19 protocols.
Governor Diri also called on all relevant authorities to give attention to other diseases while the fight against Covid-19 is on.
His words: “For us here in Bayelsa state the prosperity government believes that you cannot talk about prosperity without a healthy society. That is why when we got our index case in April we deployed all the resources available to us to ensure that we curtailed the spread.
“For our brothers and sisters, take this vaccine, it is safe. It is in your interest because. I will start by taking the vaccine to show that it is safe.”