Lagos Jittery Over Fourth Wave of COVID-19, Laments Low Vaccination Rate

• Says Only 2.67% Of Residents Have Received Jab
• Introduces New International Travel Protocols

The Lagos State government has hinted of a possible fourth wave of COVID-19 in the state, while lamenting that only 2.67 per cent of its population has been vaccinated, making the state susceptible to another outbreak.

The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, while addressing journalists in Ikeja, yesterday, identified the volume of visitors coming into the state for Christmas and New Year festivities as a potential driver of the fourth wave.

He, however, stated that the overearching goal was to keep the economy of the state open while putting strategies in place for the prevention of the fourth wave of the disease.

Prof. Abayomi stressed that part of the strategies included vaccination, management of passengers of interest, as well as testing and management of social events during Christmas festivities.

“There are plans to ramp up the percentage of residents vaccinated to 30 per cent within one year while also enforcing COVID-19 laws and guidelines with the Lagos State mobile court.

“We would also add Day 2 and Day 7 tests for post-orgasmic illness syndrome (POIS) from all countries, control size of event, ensure those attending events are vaccinated and ensure adherence to COVID-19 protocols,” he said.

He added that the government had perfected plans to partner with the private sector to rapidly ramp up COVID-19 vaccination and about 360 health facilities have been identified for the administration of the vaccines in the next phase of the campaign.

The commissioner noted that of the 360 health facilities, 225 are public facilities while 135 are private.
Abayomi also hinted of a new international travel protocol for arrivals into Nigeria for both vaccinated and unvaccinated passengers.

The Commissioner stated that vaccinated and unvaccinated passengers would have to register on the Nigeria International Travel Portal (NITP) platform, and present negative COVID-19 test results conducted not more than 72 hours before boarding.

He noted that while vaccinated passengers do not need to isolate, unvaccinated passengers would go through two stages of isolation before they are allowed access to the communities.