COVID-19: Vaccinated people can still be infected and infect others — FG

By Racheal Oyelola

The Federal Government has said that those who have been vaccinated against the COVID-19 disease could still get infected and infect other people who come in contact with them.

Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, gave the charge at the South-South zonal town hall meeting on COVID-19 in Benin, the Edo State capital.

The Minister, however, urged older persons across the country to endorse COVID-19 vaccination and encourage other citizens to get vaccinated.

According to the Minister, the only reliable way of preventing the disease is to adhere to the established public health measures, which includes social distancing, washing of hands, wearing of face mask and others.

He said, “The most reliable tool to protect ourselves and our families from this disease, remains first, compliance with the now established public health measures, and secondly, the delivery of vaccines to citizens across the country. It pleased the Almighty to reveal the secret to scientists to develop a solution to the disease.

“We already know that high national COVID-19 vaccination coverage is urgent in Nigeria and of course other parts of the world, to prevent the asymptomatic, infected persons from infecting others unknowingly, who are vulnerable or not yet vaccinated.

“Workers and the public, who are in close settings like NYSC camps, hospitals, offices and hostels, are particularly exposed and must be a priority for vaccination.

“Especially, in view of the very easily transmissible Delta variant and growing evidence that persons not vaccinated, are at higher risk of death from COVID-19 infection, than the vaccinated.”