The Edo state government has said the first phase of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccination would begin in the state on Monday free-of-charge.
This was as the government disclosed that only residents who had registered for vaccination would get the doses.
The permanent secretary, ministry of health, Dr. Oamwonyi Irowa, who disclosed this at a press conference in Benin City, said the exercise would be officially flagged off by Governor Godwin Obaseki.
According to him, “the vaccine will give long lasting protection against the virus infection when the complete doses are given.”
Irowa, who said the state was in receipt of 81,080 Covid-19 vaccine, Oxford-AstraZeneca, allayed any fear of side effects.
He said the state government had outlined health workers, religious leaders and other key players as the first batch of people that the vaccines would be administered to.
Also, the World Health Organization (WHO) representative in the state, Mrs. Faith Ireye, said all the necessary logistics had been put in place for a hitch-free exercise at the designated temporary fixed posts and primary health care centres.