By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

The Kebbi State Government, on Monday, flagged off the COVID-19 vaccination, with frontline health workers as the pioneer recipients of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Yahaya Sarki, and other journalists were among those administered with the vaccine.

The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Kebbi Medical Center, Kalgo, Dr. Abubakar Koko, was the first person to be vaccinated in the state, followed by the Permanent Secretary, Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi, Dr. Aminu Haliru Bunza.

The Commissioner for Health and Chairman, State Task Force on COVID-19, Jafaru Muhammad, rolled out the vaccine on behalf of Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.

He explained that the delay in flagging- off the vaccination was necessitated by the extensive public enlightenment and sensitization throughout the four Emirates in the state on the safety and efficacy of the vaccine.

Goodwill messages were delivered by representative of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Jalaludeen Aliyu, that of World Health Organization (WHO), Hamisu Daman, the representative of UNICEF, Sheik Suhail, representative of Integrated Health Program, Dr. Suraj and Kebbi State Coordinator of National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Mr. Yahaya Akuso.

They commended the Kebbi State Government for embarking on intensive and extensive sensitization drive towards clarifying the safety of the Covid-19 vaccine and the importance of vaccination as an anti-dote to the pandemic.