COVID-19: Lagos State vaccinates more than 127,000 persons in 10 days LagosPHCB reports.

Lagos State commences phase 1 of COVID-19 vaccination 10 days ago and has vaccinated Not fewer than 127,885 Lagosians after the exercise began, the government has said.

According to a statement by Lagos State Government, the vaccination days exercise reports had been submitted to the Commissioner for Health office by the State Primary Health Care Board.

According to the Lagos State Commissioner for Health Prof. Akin Abayomi, “Lagos State has vaccinated more persons compared to other States of the Federation and FCT.”

In a statement released by Lagos State Government, the persons vaccinated include the health workers, essential workers and strategic leaders as explained by Abayomi.

The statement reads in part: “Highlighting the demography and categories of persons vaccinated, Abayomi explained that 39,959 health workers, 54,200 essential workers and 33,726 strategic leaders, representing 31.2%, 42.4% and 26.40% have so far been vaccinated.

“Our gender distribution data has also shown that we have vaccinated more females than males, with 65,501 females representing 51.2% and 62,384 males representing 48.8% vaccinated as of March 26”, he said.

The health Commissioner also added that Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Lagos Mainland, Alimosho, Kosofe and Surulere are the top six Local Government Areas with the highest number of persons vaccinated, adding that 12,313 and 12,135 persons were vaccinated in Eti-Osa and Ikeja respectively.

“In Lagos Mainland LGA, we have vaccinated 11,791 persons; in Alimosho LGA, 9,783 people have received the COVID vaccine. For Kosofe and Surulere we have vaccinated 9,723 and 8,903 persons”, the Commissioner added.

Other parts of Lagos which include Apapa, Epe, Badagry and Ibeju-Lekki local governments have the least number of citizens vaccinated, with less than 3,500 persons vaccinated for each. The statement reads.

Abayomi also said, “State was recording a steady increase in the number of persons receiving the vaccine, from 268 persons vaccinated at the flag-off of the exercise to 127,885 persons vaccinated as of March 26.”

In the statement, Lagos State has extended the exercise additional 10 days as advised by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency NPHCDA. “The vaccination will continue at the 88 vaccination sites in Lagos for ONLY citizens that fall within the Phase one category, including health and frontline workers, senior citizens aged 70 years above, essential duty staff and strategic leaders.”

However, Abayomi said the State Government is aware of challenges being experienced by eligible persons at some vaccination sites, he said efforts are being made to address the challenges.

He said, “We have identified some areas of concern on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), overcrowding at some vaccination sites and the E-registration portal. I want to assure Lagosians that all these issues and others are being addressed by the State Government in collaboration with NPHCDA”.

“While no system is perfect, we are striving to improve the experience of Lagosians at our various sites. We are committed to this course and with the support of the NPHCDA and other stakeholders, we are certain of a successful vaccination exercise”, Abayomi said.