Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, has described the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses the Federal Government allocated to Oyo State as grossly inadequate.
He said this in a statement on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Taiwo Adisa.
Makinde said the state would engage the manufacturers of Astra-Zeneca vaccines when finally certified fit for human consumption to produce more doses of vaccine for the use of the people in the state.
The governor said, “On the issue of vaccines, the Federal Government, from what we read, has allocated 1,800 vaccines for Oyo State. First, in Oyo State, we don’t have a facility to store at minus 70 centigrade.
“Again, this number is grossly inadequate. If you want to vaccinate 100,000 people out of a population of almost 200 million, it is not going to make any dent.
“And Oyo State, which is a population of between 7-12million, 1,800 vaccines are not going to go anywhere. So, we are exploring other means of getting these vaccines to our people.
“I have been advised by the experts that the Astra-Zeneca Vaccine is more suitable for Oyo State due to storage instructions. So, we are opening discussions directly with the manufacturer so that we can get as many as possible for our people once it is certified.
“For now, the protocol remains the same. Professor Alonge and his team will continue to manage the COVID-19 situation for us but what I will say to everyone is, you have to own your action. I have to own mine action too.”
He also said the data available in the state does not support the claims that the state is witnessing a second wave of COVID-19.
The governor said, “With recent happenings and talks on the second wave of COVID-19, it becomes necessary that I address you. Let me start by talking about the issue of this supposed second wave. I have always said that all our responses to covid-19 in Oyo State will be guided by data, science, and logic.
“So, as far as Oyo State is concerned, the data we have is not pointing to a second wave as the curve was never flattened.
“The data says COVID-19 is still very much with us. Science is telling us that we can slow down the spread by taking precautions. So, the logical thing to do is to follow what science dictates.”
PUNCH