The Eastern Equatoria State ministry of health in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF over the weekend launched a Johnson and Johnson vaccination campaign in Torit and Magwi counties.
The one-week campaign that kicked off last Friday targets 98,764 people, 28,107 in Magwi and 70, 657 in Torit.
The director-general in the health ministry, Dr. Etin Concord Erib, said that the vaccination campaign will eventually cover the whole state after they received 574 vials of the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine to cover Torit, Lafon, Ikotos, and Nimule.
This brings the total of Johnson and Johnson vaccines delivered to Eastern Equatoria State to 99,338.
Dr. Erib, while launching the campaign at Nyong PHCC in Torit town, said vaccination is the only way to overcome the deadly pandemic.
“The only way for us to end this pandemic is through the vaccine so that it will not come to us because they say protection is better than cure,” Dr. Erib said. “When the pandemic comes, you will become sick completely and you may not work, no going to garden and eventually death.”
He added: “When you take this vaccine, first you have to protect yourself, secondly you would have stopped the spread of the virus from yourself to another person. The virus, when contracted, will not accept any drug.”
Momodou Barrow, a consultant at WHO in Torit said they are implementing the Covid-19 vaccination campaign in Torit and Magwi and appealed to community leaders to mobilize the population to come out and take the vaccine.
“This is an opportunity for people who missed the vaccination earlier to come over and get their first dose of J&J vaccine,” Barrow said. “It is just a simple dose once you take this vaccine it will give you 100% protection against Covid-19. Only vaccination will enable us to end this pandemic and we all have a role to play.”
“After the invention of vaccines we have all seen the reduction of cases around the world including in South Sudan and our state so it is very important that we all put our hands and efforts together to mobilize our communities,” he added.
28-year-old Kulang Lucy Morris, a resident of Hai Kuku area in Torit town who walked a long distance to take the jab, said the vaccine is important in preventing sickness and death.
“This vaccine is very important and is helping us a lot because many people died due to this virus that is why we want to prevent ourselves and our families and that is why am telling everyone in Torit who have not been vaccinated to immediately go for it,” Kulang said. “Also after taking the vaccine, you need to follow some instructions like washing hands with soap at all times.”