By Alpha Abu
President Julius Maada Bio has said Sierra Leone has so far fought a good fight against the coronavirus pandemic by initiating measures which have won the country international accolades.
Speaking during the symbolic vaccination rolling out ceremony at the State House lawn on Monday 15 March 2021 for both the Sinopharm and AstraZeneca anti-COVID vaccines, the President as the first person to be vaccinated within the country said experts have proven the safety and efficacy of the vaccines.
He described the process of Sierra Leone starting the vaccination as a milestone and affirmed that the roll out will be a “smooth one”. He said the country unlike richer nations could not afford cash stimulus package during the pandemic and hoped the on-going efforts will “help bring the scourge to an end”. The President pointed out that it was important that normalcy returns so that his government would redirect its attention to development which has been its pre-occupation.
Health and Sanitation Minister Dr. Austin Demby noted that the vaccination initiative was a bold step to rid the country of the virus especially at a time the world is experiencing a third wave. He thanked China and the global solidarity under COVAX for making available the vaccines. Dr. Demby spoke about administering two shots per individual with the first one to energize immunity whilst the subsequent one will boost immunity.
He said he was confident about the safety and efficacy of the drugs and assured of effective monitoring of the entire process.
Information and Communications Minister Mohamed Rahman Swaray later told Politico that people now want to put the coronavirus and its related problems behind them and focus on their livelihoods and that the government is also keen to continue with its development projects.
China has sent in 200,000 doses of Sinopharm whilst COVAX also air-freighted 96,000 AstraZeneca from 528,000 doses allotted to Sierra Leone.
The roll out ceremony saw jabs being given also to Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, Speaker of Parliament Dr. Abass Bundu, and Chief Minister Prof. David Francis. Ministers and their deputies together with senior officials of the main opposition APC party and C4C also got jabs. The vaccination will target health care and other frontline workers. Priority will also be given to people over 70 years. So far 79 people have reportedly died from coronavirus since the first case was recorded in Sierra Leone on 31 March 2020.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (17/03/21)
