Spike in COVID-19 cases: Why you should get vaccinated
In the last few weeks, Nigeria has been witnessing a consistent increase in COVID-19 cases. The relevant health institutions have advised the people to get vaccinated and also adhere to other preventive measures to protect themselves against the disease. According to experts, those who have not been vaccinated and get exposed to the COVID-19 virus […]
In the last few weeks, Nigeria has been witnessing a consistent increase in COVID-19 cases. The relevant health institutions have advised the people to get vaccinated and also adhere to other preventive measures to protect themselves against the disease.
According to experts, those who have not been vaccinated and get exposed to the COVID-19 virus can die from the disease, while those who are vaccinated and exposed will not.
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The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) in its COVID-19 Vaccination Update, yesterday, said as at July 24, 2022, a total of 26,329,084 eligible persons targeted for COVID-19 vaccination, have been fully vaccinated while 11,796,083 of the total eligible persons targeted for COVID-19 vaccination have been partially vaccinated.
It said aside from other vaccines, the Johnson and Johnson single dose vaccine is also available at designated Primary Health Care Centre’s (PHCs) and vaccination sites across Nigeria.
NPHCDA advised those 18 years and above, and are yet to get vaccinated to visit the nearest vaccination site and get vaccinated.
The Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, said: “Vaccination is important for your protection! Please make use of all opportunities provided by NPHCDA and governments to access any of the vaccines available. The J & J single dose vaccine is also available.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says vaccines train the immune system to create antibodies, just as it does when it is exposed to a disease. However, because vaccines contain only killed or weakened forms of germs like viruses or bacteria, they do not cause the disease or put you at risk of its complications. Most vaccines are given by injection, but some are given orally (by mouth) or sprayed into the nose.
Dr. Harrison Omokhua, chairman, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Edo State chapter, advised Nigerians to continue to take the COVID-19 vaccines. He said they help reduce severity and deaths when one contracts the disease.
“The vaccine is what the medical world has made to reduce the effect of the virus on the people.
“Right from the beginning, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned on the precautionary measures people could imbibe to prevent COVID-19, and vaccination is to reduce the severity of the virus when one gets infected,” he added.
According to the Centres for Disease Control (CDC), COVID-19 vaccines protect everyone aged five years and older from getting infected and severely ill, and significantly reduces the likelihood of hospitalisation and death.
It said getting vaccinated is the best way to slow the spread of COVID-19 and to prevent infection by Delta or other variants.