COVID-19: FG Sets Aug 16 For Phase 2 Vaccination, Gives Reason

The Federal Government has announced a new date of Aug. 16 to
begin administering the second batch of COVID-19 Moderna vaccines
doses donated by the U.S.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed
made the announcement on Monday when he featured on “Good Morning
Nigeria’’ a live programme of the Nigerian Television
Authority.

Speaking on the programme monitored by the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, the minister said the postponement of the
vaccination exercise from Aug. 10 to Aug. 16 was “purely
administrative’’.

“We have received 4,80,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine and we
will commence administering the doses on Monday Aug. 16.

“The exercise was supposed to commence tomorrow Aug. 10, but we
suspended it till Monday, and the reason is purely
administrative.

“You see, when vaccines arrive the country, they are taken to
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control
(NAFDAC)

“The agency which will analyse them and thereafter give us a
green light for the use,’’ he said.

The minister debunked reports in certain publications that the
exercise was postponed indefinitely over concerned raised by some
experts on the propriety of using Moderna vaccines.

He said, like the first batch of the Astrazeneca Vaccine which
had been fully administered without hitch, the doses of Moderna
vaccine donated to the country by the US were “safe and meant to
save lives’’

“I want to thank Nigerians for the way they responded to the
first batch of Astrazeneca Vaccine.

“I can say authoritatively that we succeeded administering the
four million doses of the vaccine and we do not have a single
expired vaccine.

“They were all administered to the targeted population.

“I want to encourage Nigerians to come out also to take the
Moderna vaccine.

The minister also disclosed that the second phase of the
vaccination exercise would target people from 18 years and
above.

He explained that the 18 years and above were targeted because
the younger ones, even in the US, were now becoming more vulnerable
to COVID-19infection and attack

Mohammed underscored the need for people to come out to take the
vaccine stressing that “Nigeria has entered the third wave of
COVID-19’’.

He explained that the Delta variant of COVID-19 pandemic which
is more virulent and deadly had been recorded in some states since
July.

“If you have our two doses, it is clear that even if you are
infected with COVID-19, it will be very mild.

“You will not be hospitalised, talk less of death as opposed to
the fellow that has not taken the vaccine.

“So, we must encourage people to go out and take the vaccine,’’
he said.

Mohammed said following the pandemic, a major challenge faced
was “infodemic’’ caused by fake news around the vaccine.

“For instance, they first came up with the fake news that it has
magnetic effect if you take the vaccine.

“After that, they said it was meant to depopulate certain part
of the country.

“ All this is not true because every vaccine you use today has
been proven to be safe and to safe life.

“ If the vaccines are not safe, they will not be administered,’’
he said.

Mohammed reiterated the call on religious and community leaders,
media and other influential people to join the Presidential
Committee on COVID-19 in fighting fake news and disinformation
around the vaccines.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on Aug.2, Nigeria
received four million doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines donated
by the United States government.

Health Minister Osagie Ehanire said the vaccines, which arrived
are undergoing validation by the country’s drug regulator.

He said the doses will be distributed to the local states once
they are certified fit for use.

The U.S. government last week shipped nearly 10 million doses to
two of the most populous African countries – Nigeria and South
Africa. (NAN)

The Federal Government has announced a new date of Aug. 16 to
begin administering the second batch of COVID-19 Moderna vaccines
doses donated by the U.S.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed
made the announcement on Monday when he featured on “Good Morning
Nigeria’’ a live programme of the Nigerian Television
Authority.

Speaking on the programme monitored by the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, the minister said the postponement of the
vaccination exercise from Aug. 10 to Aug. 16 was “purely
administrative’’.

“We have received 4,80,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine and we
will commence administering the doses on Monday Aug. 16.

“The exercise was supposed to commence tomorrow Aug. 10, but we
suspended it till Monday, and the reason is purely
administrative.

“You see, when vaccines arrive the country, they are taken to
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control
(NAFDAC)

“The agency which will analyse them and thereafter give us a
green light for the use,’’ he said.

The minister debunked reports in certain publications that the
exercise was postponed indefinitely over concerned raised by some
experts on the propriety of using Moderna vaccines.

He said, like the first batch of the Astrazeneca Vaccine which
had been fully administered without hitch, the doses of Moderna
vaccine donated to the country by the US were “safe and meant to
save lives’’

“I want to thank Nigerians for the way they responded to the
first batch of Astrazeneca Vaccine.

“I can say authoritatively that we succeeded administering the
four million doses of the vaccine and we do not have a single
expired vaccine.

“They were all administered to the targeted population.

“I want to encourage Nigerians to come out also to take the
Moderna vaccine.

The minister also disclosed that the second phase of the
vaccination exercise would target people from 18 years and
above.

He explained that the 18 years and above were targeted because
the younger ones, even in the US, were now becoming more vulnerable
to COVID-19infection and attack

Mohammed underscored the need for people to come out to take the
vaccine stressing that “Nigeria has entered the third wave of
COVID-19’’.

He explained that the Delta variant of COVID-19 pandemic which
is more virulent and deadly had been recorded in some states since
July.

“If you have our two doses, it is clear that even if you are
infected with COVID-19, it will be very mild.

“You will not be hospitalised, talk less of death as opposed to
the fellow that has not taken the vaccine.

“So, we must encourage people to go out and take the vaccine,’’
he said.

Mohammed said following the pandemic, a major challenge faced
was “infodemic’’ caused by fake news around the vaccine.

“For instance, they first came up with the fake news that it has
magnetic effect if you take the vaccine.

“After that, they said it was meant to depopulate certain part
of the country.

“ All this is not true because every vaccine you use today has
been proven to be safe and to safe life.

“ If the vaccines are not safe, they will not be administered,’’
he said.

Mohammed reiterated the call on religious and community leaders,
media and other influential people to join the Presidential
Committee on COVID-19 in fighting fake news and disinformation
around the vaccines.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on Aug.2, Nigeria
received four million doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines donated
by the United States government.

Health Minister Osagie Ehanire said the vaccines, which arrived
are undergoing validation by the country’s drug regulator.

He said the doses will be distributed to the local states once
they are certified fit for use.

The U.S. government last week shipped nearly 10 million doses to
two of the most populous African countries – Nigeria and South
Africa. (NAN)