Prof Ibrahim Gambari, the Chief of Staff to the President, on Monday, March 8 received his first dose of the Covid-19 Astrazeneca vaccine at the State House Clinic.

The first phase of the national vaccination drive, targeting frontline health workers, their supporting staff and strategic leaders, was rolled out at the National hospital Abuja on Friday, March 5.

Speaking after receiving the jab at the State House Clinic, the Chief of Staff described his experience as painless, urging eligible Nigerians to come forward and take the vaccine.

Gambari said: ‘I want to thank the Permanent Secretary, State House and the frontline healthcare workers in the Clinic for organizing and ensuring this vaccination exercise.

‘My experience in receiving this was almost painless and I am just following the footstep of my leader, his Excellency , President Muhammadu Buhari who has demonstrated leadership at the highest level by receiving the vaccine, followed by his Excellency, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

‘I want to encourage eligible Nigerians to take the vaccine. It is safe, painless and the benefits are immense.

‘It is not just for the individual but the more Nigerians are vaccinated the more we develop the herd immunity which will keep our country safe and our people healthy.’’

Several Presidential aides, as well as frontline State House medical staff were administered with the first shots of the vaccine after the Chief of Staff.

It is expected that senior government officials including the Head of Service, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of paramilitary agencies will also take their shots at the State House Clinic in the coming days.