Health

COVID-19 vaccine: Nigeria to receive over 41m dosses between August and September ending – Shuaib

By Hassan Zaggi

Between the end of this month and  September ending, Nigeria will receive 41,282,770 doses of Covid-19 vaccine from the COVAX facility, the Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, has disclosed.

He disclosed this at a media briefing in Abuja, Tuesday.

COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access, commonly referred to as COVAX, is a worldwide initiative aimed at  ensuring equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines directed by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and the World Health Organization (WHO).

He reiterated that his agency has received communication for the delivery of the vaccines.

While giving the breakdown of the vaccines, their companies and the time the vaccines are expected to arrive Nigeria, Dr. Shuaib, explained that: “3,924,000 doses of Oxford/AstraZeneca/Moderna will arrive by end of July or early August 2021 from the COVAX facility; 3,930,910 doses of Pfizer-Bio-N Tech/Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in August from the COVAX facility donated by the United States Government ; 3,577,860 doses of Pfizer-Bio-N Tech/Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in Q3 from the COVAX facility and 29,850,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson (Jassen) COVID-19 vaccine by the end of September, that will arrive in batches from the African Union Commission.”

He called for the support of all Nigerians, noting that: “We are making every effort and are confident that, with your continued support, Nigeria will be able to make more significant utilization of the vaccines, that would be supplied to the country.

“The NPHCDA is putting in place all necessary logistics for storage, distribution, security, and accountability for the range of vaccines we are expecting.

“To this end, the Federal Government of Nigeria has procured 60 units of U701 ultra cold chain equipment, and as we speak, about 37 of them have been deployed to all the 36 States and FCT in preparation to receive all COVID-19 vaccines that would require ultra-cold temperature of below 40 to 85 degrees.”

Dr. Shuaib, therefore, called on all eligible Nigerians to register and ensure that they make themselves available for vaccination on due dates, noting that: “It is important to stress that anyone who is 18 years and above is eligible to take COVID-19 vaccine. This includes pregnant and lactating women.”

He, however, revealed that the leadership of Eminent Nigerians, the Federal Ministry of Health and its agencies are continuing the process of supporting a local partner, Biovaccines Nigeria limited towards establishing local vaccine production.

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