Mr Atedo N A Peterside, the Chairman, Anap Foundation COVID-19 Think Tank, has urged Nigerians to fortify and get themselves “well-prepared’’ against COVID by taking all the preventive measures introduced by the federal and state governments.
Peterside, who said he had taken two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in March and May this year as well as the Pfizer booster last week, tested positive for COVID on December 21, 2021, after an outbreak of the virus in his house last weekend.
He had gone on self-isolation and went for tests and canceled all physical engagements he had committed to attend both in Lagos and Abuja.
A statement signed by him and made available to Persecondnews.com said: “I have chosen to tell this story so that others can learn from it. If I did not steadfastly cancel all engagements since Friday morning, only God knows how I might have contributed to the spread of COVID in Nigeria simply by being irresponsible and disobedient.
“I still do not have any COVID symptoms but in a sense, my positive test result was both a relief and a lesson. To all those who felt I was being too strict to the point of being ridiculous, I stand vindicated.
“Apart from using my plight to serve as a lesson to others, my final reason for making this pubic is to help a few misguided persons who still prefer to stigmatise COVID, There is nothing to be ashamed about if you are the latest person to be caught by a pandemic.
“Finally, please get your head around this; I had taken two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in early March and late May and I took the Pfizer booster last week in Victoria Island, and yet COVID still knocked my door. I was well prepared in the sense of taking all the preventive measures which the Nigerian Government placed at my disposal.
“Perhaps the vaccines help to make me asymptomatic (so far)? Are you as well prepared as I was? If you are not, what do you intend to do about it?’’
The statement titled, “My COVID Experience’’, said Peterside had to cancel a Future Leaders Network event scheduled for Ikoyi where he was to be the keynote speaker, weddings, business meetings, and others as well as the launch of the new National Development Plan 2021-2025 by President Muhammadu Buhari in his capacity as the Co-Chairman (Private Sector) of the National Steering Committee.
He said he had to call the Minister of Finance (the Co-Chairman Public Sector) who accepted his excuse for not attending the event.
“I told her that I felt fine and had no symptoms, but that the correct thing to do (as per NCDC protocols) was that I must continue to self-isolate.’’
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