Ahead of the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria, the government has launched the Vaccination T.E.A.C.H. Strategy and Electronic Management of Immunization Data (EMID).
T.E.A.C.H. is an acronym for a 5-point strategy developed by the vaccination implementing arm of the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), out of its many years of vaccination Implementation experience in Nigeria.
It translates as:
T: Traditional method of vaccinating target populations using desk review of available data sources, identifying the vaccination sites and rolling out;
E: Electronic self-registration for health workers and the public; a link which provides an online form will be provided;
A: Assisted electronic registration;
C: Concomitant e-registration during walk-in to fixed sites/health facilities;
H: House-to-House registration using volunteers for additional push to rapidly increase the e-registration.
Ending the pandemic
While launching the strategy, the Nigerian Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said that with all of the strategies already in place, Nigeria is inching closer to gaining control of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“With all the emphasis the Ministry of Health has placed on the various pillars of our overall response strategy; from community engagement & risk communication to improving Covid-19 case management to maintaining routine and essential medical services, to providing more timely physical, and eventually financial access to healthcare service, during personal health emergency, so that we do not suffer decline in other areas of healthcare, and now to access of all eligible Nigerians to vaccine administration.” Dr Ehanire said.
He also said the launch of T.E.A.C.H and Electronic Management of Immunization Data (EMID) will ensure a smooth rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign across the country.
He noted that the strategy utilises all the benefits of traditional, electronic, assisted and concomitant house-to-house registration to optimize the use of innovative technology.
The minister noted that the EMID is a homegrown strategy critical to addressing challenges with integrity and quality data and ultimately, primary health care data.
“Our goal is to introduce COVID-19 vaccine in a phased and equitable manner, based on advice of the WHO and the experience we observe other countries to have made, and ultimately vaccinating all eligible Nigerians within the next 2 years, to ensure herd immunity. Dr Ehanire said.
The minister urged all stakeholders to have faith in the government’s plan and align with the initiatives born of years of experience in the immunization space.
Vaccination process
In his opening remark, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) Dr Faisal Shuaib said that the Country has provided an e-registration link to enable eligible Nigerians to register for the COVID-19 vaccination.
He said this will ensure that individuals obtain their pre-vaccination numbers and schedule the date and time to receive the vaccine.
“To register for COVID-19 Vaccination, visit our website nphcda.gov.ng and click on ‘COVID-19 Vaccination e-registration,” Dr Shuaib said.
He noted that the vaccine roll-out will be in Four phases.
“The first phase of the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine would target health workers, frontline workers, COVID-19 rapid response team, laboratory network, policemen petrol station workers and strategic leaders.
“Phase 2 – Older adults aged 50 years and above.
Those with co-morbidities aged 18 – 49 years of age.
“Phase 3 – Those in states/LGAs with high disease burden and who missed phases 1 and 2.
“Phase 4- Other eligible population as vaccines become available.
“They will need to be scheduled for the vaccination by filling the EMID and those who are not health workers will be made aware of when they can get their turn,” he said.
Also Read: Covid-19: Nigeria to receive 4 million doses of vaccines in days
In his remarks, WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr Walter Mulombo, noted that the country has led an exemplary response to the COVID-19 pandemic with the launch of the strategy.
“On behalf of the WHO and all development partners, I wish to congratulate all Nigerians for this important milestone,” he said.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said that the agency had put in place put in place its biggest track and trace and pharmacovigilance system for the vaccination.
“We have approved the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines for use in Nigeria. We are ready and we will work the hardest we ever have.” Prof Adeyeye said.
On his part, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said, “The NCDC is delighted to be here. A lot of work has been done to reduce the casualty of COVID-19 on the population. We will continue to work together to protect all Nigerians.”
Stakeholders at the launching announced that the vaccines are safe and effective.
Zainab Sa’id
