Lagos Assembly Expresses Fear Over Proliferation Of COVID-19 Vaccines In Private, Public Hospitals 

The Lagos State House of Assembly is set to regulate the administration of coronavirus pandemic vaccines by both private and public hospitals in the state.

The House, therefore, called for the amendment of the 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic Bill in order to reflect the regulation of the administration of the vaccines in the state.

Moving the motion at the plenary session held on Monday, The Chairman, House Committee on Health, Hon. Hakeem Sokunle said that there were different vaccines for the treatment of the coronavirus pandemic without ascertaining their genuineness before its usage.

Sokunle explained that it was high time the House called for the regulation of the vaccines in the state in order to avert future health damages.

Sokunle, therefore, urged the House to recall the Coronavirus bill earlier passed to reflect the regulation of the administration of the vaccines.

“There is need for us to amend the coronavirus bill that we earlier passed to regulate vaccines for coronavirus pandemic in the state as people have started buying different vaccines for the purpose.

“We need to regulate the administration of the vaccines in order to avert futuristic health challenges that may occur as a result of these vaccines,” he said.

In his contribution, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti-Osa Constituency 2) stated that there was a general knowledge that the only solution to the pandemic is the vaccine and as a result everyone was bringing different vaccines into the state.

Yishawu noted that there should be regulation because there were conditions that must be observed to preserve these vaccines.

“We all know that the pandemic has got the entire world and the solution to the ravaging effect of this is the vaccine.

“Everyone is bringing in the Vaccine now. But, it has to be regulated and controlled. This vaccine has conditions that must be observed for preservation.

“It is very important because this virus is bringing different variants. In Nigeria, there has to be a control. I would suggest that we recall that bill to ensure that the administration of the vaccine is brought in,” Yishawu said.

Hon. Adewale Temitope, representing Ifako-Ijaye Constituency 1 noted that people were buying different kinds of drugs to mitigate the effect of the virus as it is still ravaging the country.

Temitope harped on the necessity to regulate these drugs to prevent health hazards in the future is necessary and timely.

“COVID-19 is still ravaging the whole country including the state and people are still buying different kinds of drugs to mitigate its effect.

“There is the need to regulate the drugs and medicine believed to nullify the effect of the pandemic in order to prevent futuristic health problems.

“Hence we need to call back this bill in order to tie the loose end and add the administration of the vaccine,” Temitope said.

Hon. Tobun Abiodun, representing Epe Constituency 2, described as an aberration the act of importing vaccines into the country without regulation.

Abiodun stated that the House should look into it before endangering the lives of lagosians.

He added that there was need to be meticulous over such so that people don’t make business at people’s detriment.

“Private people importing vaccines into the country without regulation is an aberration and it should be looked into before endangering the lives of our people.

“We should be very careful so that people don’t make business at the detriment of our people.

“We have passed a law; hence, we need to look into the law so that if we have any input they should submit it,” he said.

Hon Ajani Owolabi, representing Lagos Mainland Constituency 1, said that the pandemic has many variants which makes so many vaccines questionable.

He cited a report that South Africa recently stopped a particular vaccine because of its doubtful efficacy unlike the Pfizer vaccine with undoubtful efficacy.

“The covid-19 pandemic has many variants. South Africa recently stopped a particular vaccine because of its 23% efficacy unlike the Pfizer with 90 something percent.” He said.

Giving his resolution, Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa embraced the prayer of the Committee Chairman on Health on the need to regulate vaccine by both private and public hospitals.

Obasa, therefore, called on the Committee Chairman to discuss with the Attorney-General of State on the issue.

“I quite agree with the chairman on the need to regulate and monitor the administration of vaccine in the state by both private and public hospitals

“I hereby call on the House Committee to discuss with the Attorney-General of State on the issue.,” he said.