50,000 Nigerians to Receive COVID-19 Vaccines in February

Federal Government has said that 50,000 persons would be
administered with COVID-19 vaccines in the first phase of the
rollout.

National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) said the
country is expecting to take delivery of 100,000 doses of vaccines
by the end of this month.

The agency said the federal government had put in place a
technical working group for COVID-19 vaccine headed by the
Executive Director of the NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib that would
coordinate the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination in the
country.

The technical group is made up of all relevant ministries,
parastatals and partners.

Director of the Department of Diseases Control and Immunisation
at the agency, Dr. Bassey Ekposen who disclosed this during a
virtual meeting with media stakeholders yesterday, organised by
NPHCDA, said that health workers across the country would form the
bulk of the initial beneficiaries of the vaccines.

“The team is planning to introduce COVID-19 vaccine with the
sole aim is interrupting the transmission of COVID-19 in all parts
of the country,” he said.

Ekposen said there are many vaccines available globally for
dealing with COVID-19 but that the country is zeroing down on two
options, the COVAX scheme which is coming through the GAVI – Global
Vaccines and Immunization that Nigerians are used to.

He said that through GAVI, the poor and low income would be able
to access the COVID-19 vaccines when they are ready.

He said that apart from the COVAX scheme, Nigeria also has other
alternative sources to obtain the COVID-19 vaccines, like the
Russians and United Arab Emirates.

According to him, the technical group is working on plans to
also source vaccines from these countries as an alternative
platform to get enough vaccines for our citizens.

Ekposen said that it was important to use the occasion to clear
the fears about the safety of those that would take the vaccines,
stating that as far the agency is concerned, the COVID-19 vaccines
to be administered are “safe and effective”.

“A lot of work is going on to ensure that the vaccines that will
be introduced in Nigeria are safe and effective,” he said.

Speaking in the timelines for the introduction of the vaccines,
the Director said that as soon as the vaccines arrive the country,
there is going to be some kind of prioritisation in order to
optimise the limited resources available.

He said the arrangement would be based on global best practices,
adding the frontline health workers, airport workers, immigration,
security men who are on essential duties.

He said that the segment of the society that would be
prioritised are the elderly, those above ages of 50 and those that
have comorbid conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart disease and
hypertension.

Ekposen said that the agency is targeting to vaccinate 70%
Nigerians between this year and next year.

While explaining the handling and distribution mechanism for the
covid-19 vaccines, NPHCDA said “immediately the vaccines arrive
Abuja, they will be taken to our National Strategic Cold Store in
Abuja where we have ultra-cold chain freezers for storage.”

It said before being loaded to the freezers, a sample of the
vaccines would be taken by officials of NAFDAC for analysis and
eventual certification in line extant laws.

The agency said that it would not release the vaccines to any
until they are sure that the state is ready to implement.

According to her, as soon as each state ready to implement the
vaccination, NPHCDA will transport and supply them within 24
hours.

It further explained that the implementation is going to last
for five days in each state when the vaccine will still retain its
potency.

Federal Government has said that 50,000 persons would be
administered with COVID-19 vaccines in the first phase of the
rollout.

National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) said the
country is expecting to take delivery of 100,000 doses of vaccines
by the end of this month.

The agency said the federal government had put in place a
technical working group for COVID-19 vaccine headed by the
Executive Director of the NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib that would
coordinate the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination in the
country.

The technical group is made up of all relevant ministries,
parastatals and partners.

Director of the Department of Diseases Control and Immunisation
at the agency, Dr. Bassey Ekposen who disclosed this during a
virtual meeting with media stakeholders yesterday, organised by
NPHCDA, said that health workers across the country would form the
bulk of the initial beneficiaries of the vaccines.

“The team is planning to introduce COVID-19 vaccine with the
sole aim is interrupting the transmission of COVID-19 in all parts
of the country,” he said.

Ekposen said there are many vaccines available globally for
dealing with COVID-19 but that the country is zeroing down on two
options, the COVAX scheme which is coming through the GAVI – Global
Vaccines and Immunization that Nigerians are used to.

He said that through GAVI, the poor and low income would be able
to access the COVID-19 vaccines when they are ready.

He said that apart from the COVAX scheme, Nigeria also has other
alternative sources to obtain the COVID-19 vaccines, like the
Russians and United Arab Emirates.

According to him, the technical group is working on plans to
also source vaccines from these countries as an alternative
platform to get enough vaccines for our citizens.

Ekposen said that it was important to use the occasion to clear
the fears about the safety of those that would take the vaccines,
stating that as far the agency is concerned, the COVID-19 vaccines
to be administered are “safe and effective”.

“A lot of work is going on to ensure that the vaccines that will
be introduced in Nigeria are safe and effective,” he said.

Speaking in the timelines for the introduction of the vaccines,
the Director said that as soon as the vaccines arrive the country,
there is going to be some kind of prioritisation in order to
optimise the limited resources available.

He said the arrangement would be based on global best practices,
adding the frontline health workers, airport workers, immigration,
security men who are on essential duties.

He said that the segment of the society that would be
prioritised are the elderly, those above ages of 50 and those that
have comorbid conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart disease and
hypertension.

Ekposen said that the agency is targeting to vaccinate 70%
Nigerians between this year and next year.

While explaining the handling and distribution mechanism for the
covid-19 vaccines, NPHCDA said “immediately the vaccines arrive
Abuja, they will be taken to our National Strategic Cold Store in
Abuja where we have ultra-cold chain freezers for storage.”

It said before being loaded to the freezers, a sample of the
vaccines would be taken by officials of NAFDAC for analysis and
eventual certification in line extant laws.

The agency said that it would not release the vaccines to any
until they are sure that the state is ready to implement.

According to her, as soon as each state ready to implement the
vaccination, NPHCDA will transport and supply them within 24
hours.

It further explained that the implementation is going to last
for five days in each state when the vaccine will still retain its
potency.