Lagos Nigeria, started its coronavirus vaccination campaign on Friday after receiving over 500,000 doses of the AstraZeneca jab, despite concerns in some countries over the safety of the vaccine.
Akin Abayomi, the Lagos state health commissioner, told reporters that officials had spent a long time analyzing the data and had come to the conclusion that “there is no excuse for us to slow down our COVID-19 vaccination response.”
Following occasional reports of blood clots, several nations, primarily in Europe, have put the AstraZeneca vaccine on hold.
The European Medicines Agency, on the other hand, reported that there was no proof of a rise in harmful blood clots as a result of the shots.
On Friday, health staff and first responders in Lagos started obtaining the vaccine.
“I am absolutely delighted that we are making progress and that the government is doing so much,” said Clara Emembolu, 74, who was inoculated.
“I applaud the government’s efforts to ensure this for our people.”
The COVAX project is providing vaccines to more than 180 countries around the world.