By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

No fewer than 78,810 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines have arrived Awka, the Anambra State capital, for the first round of vaccination of residents against the dreaded pandemic.

Confirming the delivery of vaccines at the state’s cold store at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital (COOTH), Amaku, Awka on Thursday, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Vincent Okpala, said the state took delivery of the vaccines on Wednesday night at Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, before moving them to the cold store for storage.

The Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Uche Okafor, some commissioners and traditional rulers in the state, were the first to receive the Covid-19 jab under the supervision of the State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, who earlier took his in the United States of America.

The governor after first inspecting the vaccines at the COOUTH confirmed them safe, saying that they can help keep the people alive from the scourges of COVID-19.

He added: “We have received the first consignment of the COVID-19 vaccines. We received about 78,000 doses and we are going to receive the second one soon. You know each vaccine is taken in tranches. There is the first and second tranche.

“To make sure whoever gets the first jab also gets the second, we will give half of the total consignment, and reserve half of it, which we will give in the second tranche so that those who get the first, will also get the second.

“I have been vaccinated and there are no side effects. Again, I must warn that even when you get the vaccine, you must still wear your mask and do all the things you are doing now, like social distancing and washing your hands regularly until many more people have been vaccinated.”

Governor Obiano called on residents of the state to go online and register to get the vaccine administered on them, saying that in the coming days, the state government would flood the media with procedures for getting registered.

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