Residents Alleged AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine Sales In Lagos, Govt Debunks Allegation

Some Twitter users on Thursday alleged that the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine was being sold in Lagos.

A twitter user, @irizzzy alleged that the vaccine was being sold for N100,000, while @ulxma said she witnessed the vaccine being sold at Ikate Primary Health Centre.

@irizzzy wrote, “100k for vaccine? Nigeria is gone.”

100k for vaccine???

Nigeria is gone.

— R. E. N. E (@irizzzy_) March 25, 2021

Also, @ulxma, wrote, “I think the people who dragged that lady for saying that Nigerian health centres are selling the vaccine owe her a huge apology. I’m presently at a health centre in Ikate and people are coming with SUVs and having vaccine sold to them before our very eyes. I’m pissed!”

I think the people who dragged that lady for saying that Nigerian health centres are selling the vaccines owe her a huge apology. I’m presently at a health centre in Ikate & people are coming in with their SUVs & having the vaccines sold to them before our very eyes. I AM PISSED!

— ULOMA (@ulxma) March 25, 2021

The guys at Badore Health Centre in Ajah, Lagos, are not serious.

Nigeria is sick.

You need to know the top guys, and have connection to get COVID-19 vaccine jab.

If you are from Mr Lagbaja, you are safe. Others are rusting under the sun/rain. pic.twitter.com/Zw1zNfxqYB

— Adejumo Kabir A. (@AdejumoKabir2) March 23, 2021

I can confirm this. The Matron gave us a silly speech about how they’ll prioritize old people and essential workers. Next thing, they’re selling the vaccines 😭. Doctors and Nurses have been here since 6am and not one of them could get. Not ONE! https://t.co/eQULI1GQ5j

— Mimi #ENDSARS #ENDSWAT #WEREYDEYDISGUISE (@Mimi_Onyekwere) March 25, 2021

But the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Gbenga Omotoso,  challenged anyone with the proof that the COVID-19 vaccine was being sold to come forward.

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Omotoso, in an interview, also said it was not true that the state had a separate portal for the registration.

“Lagos is still leading other states in the vaccination drive. We have vaccinated over 88,000 people now. Many other states have yet to start. There are hitches here and there, but not the type that cannot be surmounted. Most of the problems we have come from the slowness of the server of the portal and the network issues. Such problems have been causing congestion at the vaccination centres.

“The people that are entitled to it are well spelt out; frontline workers, who could even be drivers of ambulances, doctors, nurses, laboratory attendants, policemen, journalists and the military people. People have said that foreigners are being given preferential treatment because they have been able to bribe officials. That is wrong. You can be a foreigner and be a frontline worker.

“Lagos has no portal apart from the one that the Federal Government has created and we are not ready to follow any other protocol apart from the one from the Federal Government. It could be a kind of misunderstanding that must have been sorted out now.

“Anybody with a proof of where COVID-19 vaccine is being sold in Lagos should bring the proof.  I can assure the person that the Lagos State Government is going to punish whoever is involved. That was what they said about the Police Clinic in Falomo and we made an unscheduled visit to the place today (Thursday). We saw what was going on there and it was in order. The only problem they have is that they don’t have enough cards and people were complaining that they have been there for long.”

Also, the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi also debunked the allegation and tagged it ‘untrue and baseless’.

He explained that COVID vaccination protocols are strictly monitored to ensure accountability of every unit of the vaccine received by the State, adding that every unit administered on citizens is accounted for at every stage of the process.

@ProfAkinAbayomi also debunked the allegation of vaccine sales at any of the 88 vaccination sites, stating that the allegation at the Ikate vaccination site is “untrue and baseless”. pic.twitter.com/c5TBKJ2woR

— LSMOH (@LSMOH) March 25, 2021

Also reacting to the allegation, the National President of NANNM, Nnachi,  warned members of the association against involving in the illegal act.

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He said “I  am not aware of that. Government has said that it must not be sold.  If anybody does  that, that person is working against the government.”

The Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr Adetunji Adenekan, said he was not aware that COVID-19 vaccine was being sold in the state.

He said, “The NMA Lagos is satisfied with the way the vaccination is being carried out in the state so far. What we are trying to do is to encourage all our members to go for the vaccination.

“Whatever hiccups that have been  noticed are just mild administrative lapses and they are usually corrected immediately.”

Adenekan said a total of 33,672 health workers have been vaccinated so far in Lagos State.

Out of 325,514 Nigerians that took the vaccine as of Wednesday, 30,704 people were vaccinated in Ogun State, Bauchi, 30, 538, Kaduna, 24,745 and Jigawa, 22,265.

As of Tuesday, Nigeria had vaccinated  215,277 persons.