The health workers in Warrap State on Saturday expressed their willingness to take the lead in taking the Covid-19 vaccine.

The state received 2,200 doses of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccines from the national ministry of health in Juba last week.

Mary Ayak Mawien Akol, a medical doctor at the Kuajok State Hospital, told Radio Tamazuj that she is ready to get vaccinated to eradicate the virus.

"My name is Ayak Mawien Akol, I am a medical doctor and I welcome the vaccination so that the virus is eradicated starting from us in the hospital and then to the rest. Why not? I am ready to take the dose," she said.

James Akol Mathiang, a clinical officer, said front-line health workers need to lead by example by getting the vaccines first. 

"I want to say to people in Warrap State to take the lead and also the health workers to be the front line people to get vaccination first, including myself. I will be the first to get vaccinated because it is life-saving and I want to save my life," he said.

Another health worker, Paul Mou Peter of Kuajok Hospital, said the pandemic affected learning institutions and if the vaccines arrived, then he is ready for the dose.

"My name is Paul Mou Peter and we welcome the vaccination and it will start from us here in the hospital then the community around us should be the second so that the disease which closed schools must be eradicated in the name of God," Mou said.

The director-general in the state health ministry, John Akol Akol, confirmed that the Covid-19 vaccines arrived on Thursday last week and will be used first for front-line health workers, the elderly and teachers who are exposed to risk. 

He said the 2,200 doses will be used in Kuajok State Hospital and St. Mary’s hospital in Twic County while Marial and greater Tonj will wait for the next consignment. 

"So we received a total of 2,200 vaccines and the targeted groups are health workers, elders from sixty-five and above, those with chronic diseases, and teachers because they are exposed to danger," he said.

Akol added that the mobilization team will 9 June start a house-to-house immunization campaign and radio talk shows will be carried out too to boost the mobilization. He said that on 11 June, the campaign will be launched by the acting governor, Ayen Mayor, and she will take the first vaccine.