COVID-19: Nigeria kicks-off second phase of vaccination today

The Federal Government on Monday commenced the administration of new vaccines, marking the start of the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination programme.

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The flag off ceremony, held at the Federal Medical Centre in Abuja, was attended by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha.

Also Present were the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, the Minister of State for Health, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Chikwe Ihekweazu and the Medical Director of the FMC, Professor Aliyu Ahmed.

The phase will see the country administering the Moderna vaccine doses donated by the United States of America (U.S.A.).

Recall that the rollout was postponed from August 10 to August 16, because of administrative issues.

Only about one percent of Nigerians have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, said the postponement was due to “purely administrative” reasons.

Apart from the over four million Moderna doses, the government has also taken delivery of 177,600 doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

The single-shot J&J vaccine was acquired through the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT), with support from Afrexim bank.

The J&J vaccines are expected to be deployed in hard-to-reach areas, to eliminate the need for travel for a second dose.

More of the J&J vaccines are expected in the country soon.

According to Health Minister, Osagie Ehanire, Nigeria has procured nearly 40 million doses of the J&J vaccines through AVAT.

MTO/The Guardian