Nigeria achieves 70% COVID-19 vaccination target – NPHCDA

According to National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Nigeria has successfully met its ambitious target of fully vaccinating 70 per cent of its population against the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Director of Disease Control and Immunization, NPHCDA, Dr. Bassey Okposen, made this known in an interview in Abuja, that the 70 per cent coverage with COVID-19 vaccines in all countries is a global imperative.

“In Nigeria, 70 per cent of eligible persons in Nigeria are fully vaccinated against COVID-19,” he said.

Okposen said 80 per cent of eligible persons in the country were at least partially vaccinated against COVID-19 and 17.5 million fully vaccinated persons in Nigeria have received additional COVID-19 vaccine booster doses
As of October 1, over 132,212,099 vaccine doses had been administered in the country.

He noted that six states have achieved 100 per cent of the target population vaccinated in the country.

“These states are Nasarawa, Jigawa, Osun, Kaduna, Kano and Adamawa,” he added.

According to him, the milestone marks a crucial step in the country’s efforts to combat the ongoing pandemic and safeguard the health and well-being of its citizens.

“With an unwavering commitment to public health, Nigeria’s vaccination campaign has surpassed expectations, demonstrating the nation’s determination to control the spread of the virus and protect its population from the devastating impacts of COVID-19,” Okposen said.

NPHCDA director said vaccinating 70 per cent of a country’s population against COVID-19 means that a significant portion of the population had received the required doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

He explained, “This level of vaccination coverage is often considered a crucial milestone in achieving herd immunity and controlling the spread of the virus within a population.

“Herd immunity, also known as population immunity, occurs when a large proportion of a community becomes immune to a disease, either through vaccination or previous infection.

“When a high percentage of the population is immune, it creates a barrier that prevents the virus from easily spreading from person to person.

“This not only protects those who are vaccinated but also provides indirect protection to those who are unable to receive the vaccine due to medical conditions or other factors.”

Okposen said that by vaccinating 70 per cent of the population against COVID-19, a country greatly reduces the risk of widespread transmission, severe illness, and death caused by the virus.

“It also helps to alleviate the burden on healthcare systems and allows for a gradual return to normalcy, including the reopening of businesses, schools, and other public spaces.

“However, it is important to note that achieving a 70 per cent vaccination rate does not mean the end of the pandemic.

“The virus can still circulate among unvaccinated individuals, and new variants may emerge, requiring ongoing monitoring and potential updates to vaccination strategies,” he said.

Okposen, urged Nigerians to continue adhering to public health measures, such as wearing masks, practise good hygiene and maintain social distancing, which remains crucial even with high vaccination rates in the country.