Abudu – As the ongoing COVID-19 Vaccination exercise enters the 8th Day on Wednesday in Orhionmwon local local government area, the Primary Health Care (PHC) Coordinator, Dr. Olaye Liberty have enjoined residents of the area to take advantage of ongoing exercise to further protect themselves from contracting the virus.

Liberty who enjoined the residents in a Chat with The Nigerian Observer at one of the Vaccination centers at Abudu, administrative headquarters of the area commended the people for their “response so far” to get vaccinated.

He further explained that the turn out at Abudu PHC within the short period of the exercise commencement have resulted in a second supply of The Moderna & AstraZeneca vaccines by the state government for onward administration.

According to him, “they (citizens) stand the risk of contracting the virus if not vaccinated; so they should come out.

“the vaccine is out there to protect everyone against the virus”.

However, at Abudu General Hospital, the medical director, Dr Alimasunya Emmanuel said the facility was yet to receive any vaccines since the exercise commenced.

The medical director who confirmed receipt of refrigerators to store the vaccines when they arrival, maintained that the hospital “only conduct COVID19 screening for now”.

“after the testing of suspected cases here (Abudu), we send it to Benin for the result. That’s what we do for now”, Alimasunya added

According to available data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Edo, with 5,402 confirmed cases as of September 1st, is the seventh most infected state in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, amid reactions to the declaration by the state government regarding restricted access to public places for unvaccinated residents, the Federal Government have hinted to sanction Nigerians who refuse to be vaccinated.

Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib said there may be application of “basic rule of law” against such people because they will be endangering the lives of others.

“If some individuals refuse to take the vaccine, hence endangering those who have or those who could not due to medical exemptions, then we have to apply the basic rule of law, which stipulates that your human right stops where mine begins. So, you have a right to refuse vaccines, but you do not have the right to endanger the health of others”, Shuaib said in Abuja