Nigeria is set to receive its first dose of 100,000 Pfizer and BioNTech approved COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use in the country by the end of January.
Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Agency in Nigeria, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, said this in Abuja, at the National Joint Media briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Nigeria.
He said the authorisation of the Messenger RNA and Protein Vector type’s vaccines was based on data which was up to 95 percent and 75 percent efficacy.
“The vaccine pillar of this platform is known as the COVAX facility. This pillar is driven by WHO, UNICEF, GAVI, AND CEPI( Coalition for Epidemic preparedness Innovation). The COVAX facility has 192 participial countries including Nigeria. This platform is currently the mainstay of our expected access to safe and effective vaccines,” he explained.
Dr. Shuaib also disclosed that Nigeria is expected to secure free delivery of 42 million doses of vaccines.
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He added that the PTF is finalising cumulative financial requirements for deploying vaccines to the last miles.
” There are 3 components to the total cost of delivering the Vaccines
- Cost of procuring additional vaccines
- Cost of delivering the Vaccines to every ward.
- The cost of ensuring the Primary Health Centres are able to deliver the vaccines effectively,” Dr. Shuaib noted.
Dr. Faisal Shuaib however noted that for the total eradication of COVID-19 in Nigeria to be achieved, there’s a need to vaccinate 70% of the total population.
According to him, 40% will be vaccinated in 2021 while the remaining 30% will be vaccinated in 2022.
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