Osun Gives Exco Members, Public Servants Three Weeks To Take Covid 19 Vaccines

By Ayodele Oni

Public servants and Members of the Executive Council in Osun State have an ultimatum of three weeks to get the Covid 19 Vaccines.

The order, which was handed down by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, came  in the wake of similar directive in Edo and Ondo states, affected health workers and others that have businesses in the state.

According to Governor Oyetola, the directive is part of the measures to curb the spread of Coronavirus in the state.

The directive was contained in a memo from the office of the Head of Service, dated September 15th, signed by its permanent secretary, S. A. Aina.

Titled “Mandatory taking of COVID-19 vaccine and observance of its protocols,”

the memo was addressed to the office of Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff and his Deputy, Commissioners, Special Advisers and Chairmen of Board & Statutory Commissions.

Others are Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Non-Ministerial Departments, Vice-Chancellor, Osun State University, Osogbo, General Managers and Executive Secretaries, Chief Medical Director, UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital; Heads of the State’s Tertiary Institutions and Council Mmanagers.

The letter read: “Consequent upon the rampaging and virulent third wave (Delta Variant) of the COVID-19 virus, Osun State government is determined to halt its continuous spread in the state.

“Hence, the government has provided COVID-19 vaccine to be taken by all workers in its various health facilities.

“This is with a view to ensuring that the vaccine is taken in order to protect and prevent the workforce and residents from being infected with the virus.

“Arising from the foregoing, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has mandated all public servants who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 to visit the nearest Government Health Centre to them or their place of work to get vaccinated forthwith.

“This directive of Mr. Governor must be taken very seriously by all the affected workers across the entire state and local government services.

“In addition to the above, the governor has directed that all public servants should continue to follow all COVID-19 protocols such as wearing of face mask, staying at least six feet away from one another, avoiding crowded places, constant washing of hands/ use of hand sanitisers, among others.”

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr. Siji Olamiju, said “We have given them three weeks to have themselves vaccinated, and in this regard, the head of the service is the campaigner for this, sensitising with all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the availability of test and eventual vaccination.

“And after this given period, anyone who citrate to this, then we would know which action to take.”