The Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (OSPHCA), Dr Francis Akanbiemu says the stakeholders were voices of people of the state, hence the need to convince the targeted people to take the vaccine.
Akanbiemu stated this at a stakeholders meeting on Mpox vaccination, which should not be taken lightly but be appreciated by all and sundry for the betterment of the state.
Meanwhile, no fewer than 12 cases of mpox have been discovered by the Ondo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency( OSPHDA) in 8 local government areas of the state.
The Director of Disease Control of OSPHDA, Dr Victor Adefesoye, states this on Monday in Akure at the stakeholders’ meeting on mpox vaccination.
Adefesoye explained that the disease, which was formerly knew to be transmitted by monkey had been discovered to be transmitted by various animals.
He described the disease as contagious, hence the need to contain its spread through vaccination in the state.
According to him, the vaccination is safe and will commence on Aug. 11 and end on Aug. 21 and will be given to targeted set of people who are above 18 years old and above.
“ The essence of this meeting is to help us to inform people in your communities, religious groups, and organizations to take this vaccine.
“ The disease is with us in Ondo State particularly in these local government areas: Akoko South-West, Akoko North-West, Akoko North-East, Owo, Akure South, Akure North, Ondo East and Odigbo.
“This vaccination process is different from previous vaccinations because we know the targeted people to be vaccinated and we have contacted them.
“ They already have the disease and we will also vaccinate their close relatives,contacts and health workers that have handled them.
“ We anticipate that though we have contacted them, some may still feel reluctant to take it. We encourage you as stakeholders to encourage them and being vaccinated,” he said.
The Director of the Disease Control added that the targeted people would be given two doses of injectable vaccine at different intervals.
He, therefore, enjoined the people of the state to imbibe the culture of personal and environmental sanitation for a good healthy society.
Also speaking,the state Immunization Officer, Mrs Florence Fadiji, said that the disease can be infected through a contact of infected animals, infected persons and infected things.
Fadiji added that the disease’s symptoms include: body sores, rashes, fever, headache and body weakness.
She stated that the vaccination might have little or no reaction, saying that the vaccination’s reaction could not be compared to the burdens and effects of the disease.
