Lagos State Government has released a list of 88 health facilities, including military and police hospitals, that have been selected to provide vaccination across the 20 local government areas.
This was disclosed in a statement the state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi issued through his official Twitter handle.
“Vaccination outside of these locations in Lagos State is highly prohibited and will attract heavy sanctions through our regulatory agencies,” he said.
The commissioner said the vaccination would be carried out in four phases.
While phase 1 is for healthcare workers, COVID-19 response team, ports of entry staff (air, land, and seaports), laboratory network, the judiciary, military, police, other security agencies, petrol station workers, teachers, press, and other frontline workers.
Phase two is for people aged 50 years and above as well as those living with co-morbidities who are between 18-49 years of age.
Phase three is for people in the LGAs with the highest burden of disease and those who missed phases 1 and 2 and phase 4 for other eligible populations.
Phase four for other eligible populations.
Out of the 3.92 million doses allocated to Nigeria, Lagos State received 507,742 doses of the vaccine in the early hours of Tuesday, March 9, 2021, and has commenced its first phase of distribution.
“Although the registration portal is open to the public, only eligible participants within phase 1 should register for the vaccination now. More information on the vaccination of other participants in phases 2 to 4 will be communicated subsequently,” Abayomi added.
He, however, explained that the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine has been declared safe by the World Health Organization but that most vaccines have some common side effects, which are not unique to the COVID-19 vaccine and which typically only last for 24 to 48 hours.
He listed some of the common adverse events that could be experienced to include: Pain or tenderness at the injection site, tiredness, chills, joint pains, headache, fever, muscle pain and nausea.
“Should any of these side effects become problematic, kindly call the number of the LGA Disease Surveillance Notification Officer—provided at the back of the COVID-19 vaccination card—for guidance, and/or return to the same health facility for further investigations and treatment.
“All vaccinated persons are also advised to download the MED SAFETY app monitored by NAFDAC. The app can be downloaded on the iOS Store or Google Play store, and can be used to report any untoward event experienced after vaccination and/or any other Adverse Drug Reactions experienced with the use of concomitant drugs,” he said.