Obaseki: Vaccination Cards To Guarantee Access To Public Places

*Edo imposes restriction on mass gatherings
*Gov flags off second phase of Covid-19 inoculation

In Edo State now, only those with the vaccination cards or
proofs of having taken, at least, their first jabs of the Covid-19
vaccines, would be granted access to public places, including
banks, worship places and other large gatherings, the state
governor, Godwin Obaseki has declared.

Obaseki, who has slammed fresh restrictions on mass gatherings
in the state, however, handed down the new rules yesterday, while
flagging off the second phase of the coronavirus (COVID-19)
vaccination exercise.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held at the Government House,
Benin City, Obaseki said,”Beginning from the second week of
September 2021, large gatherings, as well as high traffic public
and private places will only be accessed by persons, who have proof
of taking at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccination. People who
have not yet been vaccinated at all will depend on remote access to
these gatherings.

“From the second week of September people may not be allowed to
worship in churches and mosques without showing proof of their
vaccination cards at the gates. Similarly, people will not be
allowed to event centers, receptions or parties, without showing
proof of their vaccination cards.

“People will not be allowed to access banking services from the
middle of September 2021, if they are not vaccinated. We have made
adequate arrangements with security agencies to prevent anybody,
who doesn’t have vaccination cards to access any of these places.
We are doing this to protect our citizens and all these measures
will remain until the pandemic passes away,” the governor
noted.

Obaseki said his administration would continue to strictly
enforce all non-pharmaceutical measures to contain the pandemic in
the state, adding that activities to mark Edo’s 30th year
anniversary have been scaled down significantly in compliance with
COVID-19 protocols.

He explained that the new regulation was not to create a
hardship on the people but to protect their lives and livelihood
while the pandemic lasted, assuring the citizens that the “vaccine
is available and free for all. We will not abandon you at this time
of the pandemic.”

Noting that the pandemic was in its third wave in Nigeria, with
its Delta variant having devastating effects around the world, the
governor reassured the people of government’s commitment to
ensuring the health and safety of Edo people.

His words: “In Edo State, the data is very clear, as we have
collected 6,306 samples, with 203 confirmed cases and four deaths
in the third wave. 96 per cent of all confirmed cases are those not
vaccinated and 100 per cent of deaths are those not vaccinated; it
shows the importance of vaccination.

“The pandemic has come to stay as it is clear that,
intermittently, other waves will occur. As such, it is wise for us
all to embrace vaccination as a way of surviving this pandemic.

“For us in the state, we have decided to push for vaccination,
and within the next one year, we are focusing on vaccinating 60 per
cent of our citizens to enable us build herd immunity against this
pandemic.”

According to him, “Today’s launch of this phase of our
vaccination campaign will be driven by various stakeholders and
strategic groups to increase our access to the vaccines. We have
communicated with stakeholder groups, because the pandemic doesn’t
respect persons or status.

“We have 84 vaccination centers across the state; some are
mobile while others are fixed as the list will be made available
soon. We call on Edo citizens to support the launch and vaccination
exercise kicking off today, as I encourage everyone to get
vaccinated, as this is the only way we can save lives and
livelihood, as well as return to our normal lives.

“In this launch today, we have two sets of vaccines being
dispensed; the Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines. We are taking the
vaccine seriously but we will not shut down Edo State,” he
noted.

Delivering a lecture titled, “COVID-19 Vaccination, a Fighting
Chance,” the state epidemiologist, Dr. Greg Oko-Oboh, said, the
world was experiencing the third wave of COVID 19 pandemic as the
state was 8th out of the 36 State of the federation with the new
infection.

*Edo imposes restriction on mass gatherings
*Gov flags off second phase of Covid-19 inoculation

In Edo State now, only those with the vaccination cards or
proofs of having taken, at least, their first jabs of the Covid-19
vaccines, would be granted access to public places, including
banks, worship places and other large gatherings, the state
governor, Godwin Obaseki has declared.

Obaseki, who has slammed fresh restrictions on mass gatherings
in the state, however, handed down the new rules yesterday, while
flagging off the second phase of the coronavirus (COVID-19)
vaccination exercise.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held at the Government House,
Benin City, Obaseki said,”Beginning from the second week of
September 2021, large gatherings, as well as high traffic public
and private places will only be accessed by persons, who have proof
of taking at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccination. People who
have not yet been vaccinated at all will depend on remote access to
these gatherings.

“From the second week of September people may not be allowed to
worship in churches and mosques without showing proof of their
vaccination cards at the gates. Similarly, people will not be
allowed to event centers, receptions or parties, without showing
proof of their vaccination cards.

“People will not be allowed to access banking services from the
middle of September 2021, if they are not vaccinated. We have made
adequate arrangements with security agencies to prevent anybody,
who doesn’t have vaccination cards to access any of these places.
We are doing this to protect our citizens and all these measures
will remain until the pandemic passes away,” the governor
noted.

Obaseki said his administration would continue to strictly
enforce all non-pharmaceutical measures to contain the pandemic in
the state, adding that activities to mark Edo’s 30th year
anniversary have been scaled down significantly in compliance with
COVID-19 protocols.

He explained that the new regulation was not to create a
hardship on the people but to protect their lives and livelihood
while the pandemic lasted, assuring the citizens that the “vaccine
is available and free for all. We will not abandon you at this time
of the pandemic.”

Noting that the pandemic was in its third wave in Nigeria, with
its Delta variant having devastating effects around the world, the
governor reassured the people of government’s commitment to
ensuring the health and safety of Edo people.

His words: “In Edo State, the data is very clear, as we have
collected 6,306 samples, with 203 confirmed cases and four deaths
in the third wave. 96 per cent of all confirmed cases are those not
vaccinated and 100 per cent of deaths are those not vaccinated; it
shows the importance of vaccination.

“The pandemic has come to stay as it is clear that,
intermittently, other waves will occur. As such, it is wise for us
all to embrace vaccination as a way of surviving this pandemic.

“For us in the state, we have decided to push for vaccination,
and within the next one year, we are focusing on vaccinating 60 per
cent of our citizens to enable us build herd immunity against this
pandemic.”

According to him, “Today’s launch of this phase of our
vaccination campaign will be driven by various stakeholders and
strategic groups to increase our access to the vaccines. We have
communicated with stakeholder groups, because the pandemic doesn’t
respect persons or status.

“We have 84 vaccination centers across the state; some are
mobile while others are fixed as the list will be made available
soon. We call on Edo citizens to support the launch and vaccination
exercise kicking off today, as I encourage everyone to get
vaccinated, as this is the only way we can save lives and
livelihood, as well as return to our normal lives.

“In this launch today, we have two sets of vaccines being
dispensed; the Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines. We are taking the
vaccine seriously but we will not shut down Edo State,” he
noted.

Delivering a lecture titled, “COVID-19 Vaccination, a Fighting
Chance,” the state epidemiologist, Dr. Greg Oko-Oboh, said, the
world was experiencing the third wave of COVID 19 pandemic as the
state was 8th out of the 36 State of the federation with the new
infection.