By Hassan Zaggi
The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, has explained that a vaccinated individual can still contract COVID-19 infection.
He gave the explanation at a media briefing in Abuja, but however, said that such cases are very rare.
While describing such rare occurrence as ‘breakthrough infection,’ Shuaib said: “Where such rare cases of COVID-19 infection occur in individuals who have received the vaccination more than 14 days prior, it is called breakthrough infection.
“The observation is that in these individuals, the disease is usually milder than those who were unvaccinated.
“Vaccination prevents one from severe disease, hospitalization and death. If our communities continue to remain unvaccinated, we will keep endangering our citizens most especially those who are vulnerable, elderly or immunocompromised.
“I encourage us to be our brother’s keepers and adhere to all measures to not just protect ourselves, but our loved ones, friends and communities. Taking the jab is a first step towards taking responsibility.”
Dr. Shuaib however, warned Nigerians to note the number of COVID-19 cases recorded in this third wave.
He, therefore, cautioned Nigerians to “remember that the Delta variant is highly contagious, more than twice as contagious as previous COVID-19 variants and the more a community/society remains unvaccinated, the more they allow this virus to mutate to other more virulent forms.
“We have the vaccines to stop this mutation process and prevent deaths related to this disease.
“I therefore encourage us to take advantage of the efforts by the Federal Government to ensure citizens are safe and protected from this virus.”
In an effort to ensure that all Nigerians get vaccinated, Dr. Shuaib, said that his agency has initiated a process that will enable some workers who may find it difficult to leave their duty post to the vaccination site to be vaccinated in their offices.
He disclosed that his agency has introduced what he christened ‘expanded in-situ corporate vaccination.’
This, according to him, entails making special arrangement for eligible staff, dependants and retirees of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government (MDAs) and the private sector to get vaccinated in their office premises.
He said that the MDAs, public and private corporate organization that require staff to be vaccinated should visit www.nphcda.gov.ng to fill the request form.
These services, Dr. Shuaib, reiterated, would be provided at no cost to the Ministries, agency/cooperate bodies.
He, therefore, called on states and LGAs “should please note that no fees/levies should be mandated from the cooperate bodies when teams are sent to provide these services.”
