FG Approves Commencement Of Second Dose Of Vaccination

The Federal Government on Monday directed States to commence the
second dose vaccination of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

It urged Nigerians who have taken their first dose to check
their vaccination cards for the date of their second dose, bearing
in mind the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended the
expansion period for taking the second dose from 12 weeks to
between 6 and 12 weeks.

The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National
Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib,
made these known during the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC)
on covid-19 briefing in Abuja.

He said: “The covid-19 vaccination in Nigeria is ongoing as
scheduled in all states. As of today may 10 2021, 1,690,719 people
have been vaccinated, representing 84 percent of the eligible
persons targeted with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. These people
have been administered their first dose in this vaccination
phase.

“We advise that people who have received their first dose should
check their vaccination cards for the date of their second dose,
and ensure that they receive their second dose to gain full
protection against covid-19.

“I want to remind you that the eligibility period of the first
and second dose of the vaccine have been expanded from 12 weeks to
between 6 and 12 weeks in line with the scientific recommendation
provided by the WHO’s strategic advisory group of experts on
immunisation.”

He added: “As we did during our polio eradication fight, we are
strengthening our covid-19 vaccination campaign at the community
level with town hall meetings across the country.

“We know that there is vaccine hesitancy and it is here in
Nigeria just as it is present globally.

“What we have to do is exactly what is done everywhere else – to
make sure that we put the correct information in front of all
Nigerians.

“The number of side effects have not significantly grown beyond
the numbers reported the last time, that is why I did not include
them in my report. We are still way under 9,000 mild cases of
adverse events following immunisation.”

The Federal Government on Monday directed States to commence the
second dose vaccination of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

It urged Nigerians who have taken their first dose to check
their vaccination cards for the date of their second dose, bearing
in mind the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended the
expansion period for taking the second dose from 12 weeks to
between 6 and 12 weeks.

The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National
Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib,
made these known during the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC)
on covid-19 briefing in Abuja.

He said: “The covid-19 vaccination in Nigeria is ongoing as
scheduled in all states. As of today may 10 2021, 1,690,719 people
have been vaccinated, representing 84 percent of the eligible
persons targeted with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. These people
have been administered their first dose in this vaccination
phase.

“We advise that people who have received their first dose should
check their vaccination cards for the date of their second dose,
and ensure that they receive their second dose to gain full
protection against covid-19.

“I want to remind you that the eligibility period of the first
and second dose of the vaccine have been expanded from 12 weeks to
between 6 and 12 weeks in line with the scientific recommendation
provided by the WHO’s strategic advisory group of experts on
immunisation.”

He added: “As we did during our polio eradication fight, we are
strengthening our covid-19 vaccination campaign at the community
level with town hall meetings across the country.

“We know that there is vaccine hesitancy and it is here in
Nigeria just as it is present globally.

“What we have to do is exactly what is done everywhere else – to
make sure that we put the correct information in front of all
Nigerians.

“The number of side effects have not significantly grown beyond
the numbers reported the last time, that is why I did not include
them in my report. We are still way under 9,000 mild cases of
adverse events following immunisation.”