By Hassan Zaggi
In an effort to ensure that all Nigerians regardless of their social status get vaccinated, the Federal Government has flag-off mass vaccination campaign of COVID-19 for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and vulnerable persons in all parts of the country.
At the formal flag-off in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Thursday, the Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, disclosed that the flag-off is aimed at fast-tracking the coverage of all eligible persons in the country.
According to him: “We are committed to ensure that our vaccination teams will be available on site here and in other IDP camps all over the country daily until every eligible person has received their vaccines.
“I therefore, urge camp leaders to take responsibility and ensure all members are fully vaccinated. Please do not hesitate to demand for the vaccines if the teams stop coming and there are still unvaccinated persons in the camp. It is your right to get vaccinated.
“At this juncture, may I emphasize that taking the COVID-19 vaccine is not just an act of self-protection but also a civic duty to curtail the spread of the virus in the camp and in Nigeria.
“Every one of us has a critical role to play in mobilizing our friends, families, and camp mates to the vaccination site. Remember, no one is safe from COVID-19 until everyone is safe.
“Even after vaccination let us continue to wear our face masks, wash our hands frequently, observe physical distancing and avoid large gatherings until Nigeria achieves full vaccination of all its eligible population.”
Speaking on the commencement of the administration of the booster dose of the vaccine, Dr. Shuaib, said: “Evidence has shown that the booster dose further increases protection against the virus.
“Eligibility for the booster dose includes being 18 years and above, fully vaccinated with either two doses of AstraZeneca, Moderna or Pfizer Bio-N-Tech or a single dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
“The time interval before the booster dose is at least six months for these vaccines, except the Johnson and Johnson which is at least two months.
“This is another opportunity to be further protected. I, therefore, urge all those who have taken the right decision to be fully vaccinated, to walk into the nearest vaccination site for their booster dose as from tomorrow.
“I want to reassure everyone that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and efficacious. We have in place the required measures and precautions to ensure vaccine monitoring and accountability. “
Earlier, Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, commended the NPHCDA for the initiative to ensure all vulnerable persons in the country are immunized.
She stressed that: “These Persons of Concern have had their livelihoods eroded by both man-made and natural disasters such as protracted fighting, insecurity, communal clashes, and the consequences of climate change, leaving them more vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic’s larger impact.
“The majority of them lack access to an adequate health care system and are stigmatized as a result of their situation.
“This is why the Commission is collaborating with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency to ensure that COVID Vaccines reach these vulnerable Persons of Concern.”
Imaan revealed that current statistics indicated that between 2020 till date, there has been a sharp increase in the number of displacements by about a million, bringing the total number of internal displaced persons to about 3 million residing in camps and host communities across the country.
