Simon Lalong, chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and
Plateau state governor, says he and his colleagues have agreed to be in front
of the line to take the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The move by the governors appears to be a way to allay the
fears and concerns some northerners might have of the vaccine.
The polio immunisation programme suffered a big setback in
the north amid claims it was intended to sterilise them in order to reduce
Muslim population across the world.
Some Christian leaders have also been peddling unsubstantiated
claims that Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, wanted to plant microchips in
human beings through the vaccine — in order to gain control of their brains.
Yahaya Bello, the governor of Kogi state, recently said the
vaccine is intended “to kill us”, but his colleagues have distanced themselves
from his claims.
Speaking at a teleconference organised by the Sir Ahmadu
Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF) on Thursday, Lalong, represented by Danladi
Atu, secretary to the Plateau state government, expressed hope that their
action will encourage the people to take the vaccine.
“We the northern governors have agreed to take the first
doses of the vaccines,” the governor said.
Also speaking, Clara Ejembi, a professor of community
medicine from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, said the people should
continue to adhere to the COVID-19 protocol.
The professor said the vaccine does not stop one from being
reinfected with the dreaded disease.
On his part, Faisal Shu’aibu, executive director of National
Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), said the federal government is
aiming at having over 70 percent vaccinated in two years.
Shu’aibu said it is projected that 40 percent of the world’s
population would be vaccinated in the first phase.
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Na governor only the take convic 19 vaccine
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