The executive director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib, on Monday, September 13, said 1,692,315 persons have received the required complete (two) doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
Shuaib, while speaking at the national briefing of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC), said as of Monday evening, 4,052,756 eligible Nigerians have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccines.
Shuaib said: “This is made up of 2,645,020 persons with the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine and 1,407,736 persons with the first dose of Moderna vaccine. A total of 1,692,315 eligible persons are fully vaccinated and we currently have a national average of 70.4 per cent utilisation of the 2,000,040 doses of modern vaccines we received.”
Guideline for States to Adhere to in Vaccine Administration
In what appears as a strict warning to states across the country, Shuaib said all the 36 states including the Federal Capital Territory have been guided not to exceed their 50 per cent utilization rates for Moderna vaccines.
The NPHCDA boss said not exceeding the 50 per cent utilisation mark is aimed at reserving the vaccines for the second doses for all those already taken their first shot.
He said most states have reached this percentage and priority is now focused on administering AstraZeneca vaccine as first dose vaccine in all states across the country.
He urged states yet to publish their vaccination sites to do so across the various media and news platforms, to enable people to locate their nearest vaccination site.
“The list of vaccination sites across the country is also available on the NPHCDA website www.nphcda.gov.ng Eligible persons who are unable to register by themselves can go to any designated health facility where he/she will be assisted by our vaccination team,” Shuaib added.
He said states have the responsibility to protect the vaccines and vaccination cards sent to them.
Shuaib said states found to be condoning any acts of corruption in the process of vaccination will no longer be allocated vaccines.
Shuaib said: “We have received reports of people trying to procure cards from health workers, these reports are being investigated and anyone found wanting would be prosecuted. It is important to emphasize that it is in the interest of public safety and collective well-being of Nigerians that the Federal Government has made available these vaccines free for all eligible persons.”
Lafiya360 had earlier reported that to improve vaccine acceptance, the NPHCDA is working with traditional leaders in the North.
The traditional leaders led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III are expected to push the drive by educating their community members on the benefits of COVID-19 vaccine.
They would also work with various health agencies and workers to ensure the adherence to the use of masks, physical distancing and maintaining needed water and sanitation hygiene by constant washing of hands.