The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency says about 215,277 Nigerians have received their first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines, representing5.5 per cent of the country’s over 200 million population.
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) made this known in a statement issued in Abuja.
The Executive Director of the agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib says the figure is almost doubled the numbers of people vaccinated as of Monday, March 22.
Dr Shuaib however said no severe side effects have been reported following vaccination.
The agency said COVID-19 vaccination has commenced in 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kogi, Kebbi, Zamfara, and Oyo States are yet to commence vaccination.
“Kogi State was not supplied with the vaccines because their cold store is still under repairs following vandalisation during the EndSARS protest,” Shuaib said at the briefing.
The agency also said Lagos state has the highest number of people vaccinated with 58,461, this is followed by Bauchi with 23,827, Jigawa -20,800, Ogun – 19,257 and Kaduna -14,527.
States with the lowest vaccinated people Include Ebonyi 77, Sokoto 98 and Akwa Ibom with 127.
The Nigerian government said it aims to vaccinate approximately 109 million people against the COVID-19 virus over a period of two years.
Health authorities said only eligible population from 18 years and above will be vaccinated.
Nigeria in early March received 3.94 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine through the COVAX facility, led by the World Health Organisation, and has commenced vaccination of healthcare workers and other providers of essential services.
The country also received 300,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from telecom giant, MTN, according to the Chairman of PTF on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha.
Although there have been controversy over the safety of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines, Nigeria has chosen to continue to rollout of the vaccines.
