From Audu Joe, Lokoja
The Catholic Bishop of Lokoja diocese, Rt Bishop Martin Olorunmolu, yesterday declared, after taking his first jab, that the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is safe.
Bishop Olorunmonu made the declaration when he received the first jab of AstraZeneca vaccine at the premises of Federal University of Lokoja (FUL), Adankolo Campus, yesterday.
He dismissed skepticism towards COVID-19 vaccines and urged the people of the state to ignore conspiracy theories and go for the vaccine.
The clergy appealed to residents of Lokoja and adjoining communities to take the vaccines to save lives and prevent exposing others to risk stressing that the vaccines are safe.
“People should not entertain fears of side effects as alleged by conspiracy theorists. The vaccine offers hope for a safe society free of coronavirus”.
“We thank God for His grace that has protected us all thus far, however, we should not take the grace for granted.We are appealing to everyone, every Catholic and every Christian to go and take this vaccine,” he said.
Speaking after Bishop Olurunmonu had been vaccinated, the Coordinator of Justice Development And Peace Commission, (JDPC), Catholic Diocese of Lokoja, Fr. Augustine Okafor, assured the people of the vaccine’s safety.
“We have not heard any severe adverse effect from the thousands of residents of Kogi State who have been vaccinated.
“By vaccinating His Lordship, other people will see the need to get vaccinated and prevent this pandemic from spreading, as well as protect lives,” he said.
The Kogi State Government took delivery of about 16, 900 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, with the Executive Director, Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KSPHCDA), Dr Abubakar Yakubu, taking the lead by getting vaccinated on Monday, April 5, 2021.