‘You’ll still beg for it’ — Ize-Iyamu asks Edo residents to get COVID vaccine

Osagie Ize-Iyamu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 2020 governorship election in Edo state, has advised residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

He spoke on Sunday during the COVID vaccination exercise which took place in various churches in Benin, the Edo capital.

Last week, Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo, flagged off the second phase of the state’s COVID-19 vaccination exercise.

Obaseki also said those who cannot show proof of taking at least one dose of the COVID vaccine may not be allowed to worship in mosques and churches, from September.

He added that such restrictions will also extend to banks and event centres.

Ize-Iyamu commended the government for making the vaccines available to Edo people, adding that he, alongside his wife and children, has taken two doses of Astrazeneca vaccines.

He encouraged all Edo people to take advantage of the availability of the vaccines to get themselves inoculated.

“All over the world, people have been working to see how they can put a stop to the pandemic and the vaccines came as a way to stay safe,” Ize-Iyamu said.

“When the vaccines came to Nigeria, I signified interest in taking the vaccine, I took it along with my wife, and nothing has happened to me or my wife. I have continued to encourage my friends to come out and get vaccinated.

“I urge Edo citizens to seize the opportunity created by the Edo State Government and get vaccinated. This is the time to take it when there is no rush because a time is coming when we will beg and fight for it.

“I am grateful to the government for making it available and encouraging us to take it. I encourage you all to go and take it; the vaccine is good and safe.”

On his part, Stephen Okojie, parish priest of St. Peter Catholic Church, Ugbor in Edo state, urged preachers to stop discouraging people from being vaccinated.

“We are happy that we have vaccines now to defeat this pandemic. The rumour about the vaccines is not true. We took vaccines while growing up. There is no issue with vaccination against the COVID-19 pandemic,” he explained.

“I am fully vaccinated; I have taken my two doses and we have over 60 percent of parishioners here already vaccinated. We have been preaching about it and encouraging our people to be vaccinated.”

Irene Uabor, an official of the Edo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ESPHDA), who monitored the exercise, applauded members of churches for accepting the vaccine.

“The acceptance rate by Christians across churches visited today is tremendous and encouraging. People are coming out to take the vaccines. We have enough doses in the state for the people,” Uabor said.