The Western el-Ghazal State health ministry in collaboration with health partners on Monday launched the Johnson and Johnson Covid-19 vaccination campaign.
The acting director-general in the ministry, Dr. Christopher Paul revealed that the vaccination will cover 15 centers in the state including three counties Wau, Jur-River, and Raja County.
Last week, the state health ministry received 575 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
"This vaccine is for all and one dose is enough and effective as those who have taken the first AstraZeneca whose second doses will come. We, in the ministry of health, will continue to vaccinate all citizens of the state in all the counties,” he said. "We have 15 centers, four in Wau town, four in Jur-River County, three in Raja County, and four in Wau county.
Dr. Paul encouraged all youth above 18 years of age to turn up for the inoculation exercise saying the vaccines are safe and effective.
UNICEF's representative, Balima Fati promised that more vaccines will be availed if the current supply is exhausted.
"If Western Bahr el-Ghazal is successful in consuming all 575 doses, let me ensure you UNICEF will make sure to get extra dosages because all the partners and other humanitarian agencies including the government are assuring the public that the vaccine is completely safe, WHO always approves vaccines which are safe and do not have any impact on us except to fight this virus," she said. "…. At this point, I would like to request all the government leaders to support in mobilizing the communities to come and access these vaccines."
Furthermore, the director for WHO sub-office in Western Bahr el Ghazal State Dr. Sansalaus Barnaba revealed that they plan to get about 40% of the South Sudan population vaccinated by end of the year.
"From here I want to assure you that WHO will continue to support the government of South Sudan by providing extra doses to 40% of the population by the end of December 2021 and 70% by the coming year," Barnaba said.
The state information minister Addison Arkangelo Musa urged everyone who has not been vaccinated to take the chance to protect him/herself and those around them against the deadly coronavirus.
According to WHO statistics, the first campaign covered 2,691 in Wau and 837 in Raja County and the second campaign covered 5,888 in Wau and 1,419 in Raja to bring the total of 10,835 people who have been vaccinated in the last two campaigns in the state alone.