Covid-19: “No private sector engagement in vaccines administration”-Health Minister

Nigeria has announced that it will not engage any Private sector in the administration of the Covid-19 vaccines in the country.

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire said this as the country is set to receive its first doses of 4 million Covid-19 vaccines from the COVAX facility on Tuesday, the 2nd of March, 2021.

Dr Ehanire said the vaccines would arrive from Mumbai to Nigeria as all plans and arrangements have been finalised to ensure a hitch free rollout of vaccination, including training of health workers, secured logistics and cold chain equipment to receive vaccines in all wards of the federation.

“There will, for now, be no need for ungoverned private importation of vaccines. Vaccine deployment will be by NPHCDA, till further notice and I can assure all citizens that they are in a position to cater to the needs of all persons, as in the rollout strategy, but also able to respond to institutions, clusters and settings, including closed settings like prisons and IDPs, with deployment of NPHCDA vaccination teams. This is upon application and special arrangements,” he explained.

Dr Ehanire added that Nigeria was expecting enough vaccines of three types, to cater for its needs, with the option to increase supply if need be.

Confidence Okwuchi