By Leshi Adebayo
Federal civil servants who are yet to take their COVID-19 vaccine jab will not be allowed into various public offices nationwide, beginning from December 1.
Recall that the Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, in September, had announced the directive that all Federal Government workers must be vaccinated, setting December 1 as its deadline.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, speaking at a ministerial press briefing in Abuja on Monday, reiterated the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, saying it has become a global phenomenon and Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind in the fight against the pandemic.
He said, “There’s a deadline already set and we are hoping that it will encourage those civil servants who love their jobs and are yet to take the COVID-19 vaccine to take the jab for their own good.
“The reason is that there’s evidence that supports the fact that if you are fully vaccinated, the effect of COVID-19 won’t be much on you.
“But that is not the same with unvaccinated people. There are higher chances of survival if a fully vaccinated person comes down with COVID-19.
“However, those who have not taken the vaccine are a threat to the safety of other people who have been fully vaccinated and possibly share same public places with them by virtue of being colleagues.
“There’s a higher risk of them infecting other people, and that’s what we want to avoid. In addition to that, we want to secure the health of others who share the same public spaces.”
Ehanire confirmed the availability of sufficient COVID-19 vaccine and advised unvaccinated persons to take advantage of that and get immunised against coronavirus.
