The Nigerian Government says its National Agency for Food Administration and Drug Control, NAFDAC will analyse the first batch of the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in 24 hours as its arrives in the country.
Executive Secretary, National Primary Health Care Development Agency,NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shu’aib said this at the National Joint Media briefing by the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19.
He said a few vials of the vaccines would be handed over to the NAFDAC team which they would analyze over a period of two days (Wednesday March 3rd and Thursday March 4th).
” Further to the clearance by NAFDAC, the PTF, FMOH, NPHCDA and strategic leaders will be at the treatment center of the National Hospital on Friday March 5th 2021, where the first vaccination site will be set up to commence the vaccination of the front-line health workers and support staff,” he stated.
According to the Executive Secretary, these Staff would also be electronically registered in the Covid-19 vaccine database and would receive their Covid-19 vaccination card which has a QR code that can be verified worldwide.
He explained that, “On Saturday, March 6th, Key Strategic leaders will receive the first dose of the vaccine. On Monday March 8th 2021, more vaccination sites would have been set up at designated locations such as National Assembly clinic, State House clinic and Federal medical centre, Jabi where strategic leaders such as the SGF, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Attorney General of the Federation, Inspector General of Police, the Ministers and Ministers of States, Senators, House of Representatives, traditional leaders and religious leaders would be vaccinated.
After this launch and initial roll-out phase, Vaccine distribution to the States for the phase 1 vaccination process will begin.
“This phase is the vaccination of all frontline health workers, their supporting staff and strategic leaders,” he explained.
Dr Shu’aib added that the deployment of vaccines to the States would be based on the assessment of their level of preparedness.
Confidence Okwuchi
