..penalty to be introduced soon for defaulters
Kowiyat Adepoju and Zainab Abiola
Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker says COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective.
She said it has no detrimental effect and thereby urged all students to take the vaccine.
The statement was made during the Ogun State Primary Health Care Development flag off ceremony for COVID-19 Mass Vaccination in Moshood Abiola Polytechnic.
The mass vaccination campaign was organized by
Ogun State Primary Health care Development Board (OGPHECADEB) in collaboration with National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
The essence of the mass vaccination of Students in tertiary institutions as said by Dr. Coker is to ensure that students are safe from COVID-19 disease.
In her words, “As you know the youth are more agile and everywhere and there is a large concentration of the youth in MAPOLY, so we decided that we start with MAPOLY because we know that if we can capture the youth, we have got the population, Also,the youth are the ones who can have a life style that take risk for instance, they go to party, night clubs, where there is crowd because that’s their natural disposition. So we have to make sure that they are save, so that when they go back home, their loved ones too will be protected.”
She also cleared the air on the misconception people have about the vaccine.
She said, “I, myself, alongside the apex person in Ogun state, Prince Dapo Abiodun and every staff of the ministry and including the Rector of the school have taken the vaccine over 6 months ago. If there is going to be any devastating effect of the vaccine, by now, it would have manifested itself. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective. And as students, we should try to get through this misinformation by conducting a thorough research and take information only from reliable sources.”
Also speaking at the occasion was the Acting Rector of the school, Dr. Adeoye Odedeji who spoke about the mass vaccination process as a welcome development and a step closer to protecting students from the disease.
He said, “If all of us are vaccinated, then that fear of contacting COVID-19 will be drastically reduced and we will go back to our normal life.”
He encouraged all students and staff to get vaccinated adding that there is no any implication when one is vaccinated.
Similarly, Dr. Odedeji said that the school will soon come up with a directive to ensure that all students get vaccinated, adding that failure of any student to do that will attract a penalty.
“It is a way of ensuring that everyone is safe and help prevent the spread of the disease,” he said.
He further added that if at the state level, the directives could be enforced, then he sees no reason that should not be extended here in the school.
Dr. Odedeji also noted that the vaccination is not restricted to only members of staff and students of the institution alone, it is extended to other members of the public situated close to the school.
In the same vein, the Students’ Union Government President, Comrade Babatunde Adeola Ganiyu expressed his satisfaction about the mass vaccination of students, encouraging the students to see it as an opportunity to get vaccinated irrespective of what they have heard about the vaccine on social media.
He equally urged the HND2 students to get vaccinated quickly as it will be one of the requirements needed for their mobilization for NYSC.
He also used the opportunity to request from the Governor of Ogun state, Prince Dapo Abiodun to fix the school road from Onikolobo to Oloke.
“When we are talking of health, it is not only about COVID-19. Health cut across every thing that has to do with our body. So I want to use this opportunity to remind His Excellency on the condition of our road. Also, we need you to assist in equipping the school clinic where students can easily walk down to the clinic irrespective of whatever is happening to them and get attended to immediately,” Babs said.
