COVID-19: Nigeria reopens first-dose vaccinations, to receive 3.92m extra vaccines early August

*The National Primary Health Care Development Agency discloses that Nigeria resumed the Coronavirus first-dose vaccination exercise Tuesday, June 15

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Sequel to increasing requests by Nigerians to be vaccinated against the damaging Coronavirus disease, the Federal Government has reopened the administration of the first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine in various parts of the country.

ConsumerConnect reports Dr. Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), who stated this at a media briefing to update Nigerians on the status of COVID-19 vaccination in Abuja, FCT, noted that the resumed first-dose vaccination exercise began Tuesday, June 15, 2021.

COVID-19 vaccination

Dr. Shuaib said “recall that we officially closed the vaccination for the first dose on May 24, 2021. Since then, we have been inundated with requests by Nigerians to be vaccinated.”

“In response, we have decided to reopen vaccination for the first dose from today.

“This means anyone 18 years and above who has not been vaccinated should visit the nearest vaccination site for the first dose of the AstraZeneca Vaccine.”

The NPHCDA Executive Director stated that such individuals would be due to receive their second dose of the jab in 12 weeks, as Nigeria will have received the next consignment of the COVID-19 Vaccines.

According to him, dedicated teams have continued to make strides in the vaccine rollout, working hand-in-hand with the local communities all across the country.

Shuaib also disclosed that the agency as of June 15, had administered 1,978,808 and 680,345 first and second doses of the vaccine respectively.

He, therefore, urged all Nigerians who have received their first dose to check their vaccination cards for the date of their first dose.

Such persons are to ensure that they receive the second dose between six and 12 weeks from the date they took the first dose, to gain full protection against the COVID-19 virus, said he.

He noted that in some cases, the location of the second dose could be different from that of the first dose in the country.

Shuaib stated: “I, therefore, urge all Nigerians who have received their first dose at least six weeks ago to visit the nearest vaccination site to receive their second dose, for full protection against COVID-19 on or before June 25 when we shall close the administration of the second dose.”

Government will receive 3.92m additional doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca Vaccine early August, says NPHCDA  

Meanwhile, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency has said that Nigeria will receive 3.92 million additional doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Vaccine latest in early August.

Dr. Shuaib, who disclosed this to reporters Tuesday, in Abuja, however, did not give the exact dates in respect of the timeline the country would take delivery of the vaccines.

He said: “We now have information that Nigeria will get 3.92 million doses of Oxford/AstraZeneca by end of July or early August.

“As we receive additional information on the exact dates in August, we will provide an update regarding timelines and details of this.”

The NPHCDA boss noted that the agency has held town halls in the North-Central and North-East regions of the country.

While efforts at ensuring the supply of safe and effective COVID-19 Vaccines are ongoing, the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) would hold its planned meeting with stakeholders in the South-South region of Nigeria, and the larger communities on COVID-19 vaccination on the course of the week, he told reporters.

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