FG Begins Nationwide Distribution of Covid-19 Vaccine

The Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib at the media briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19  yesterday in Abuja, said that the federal government has begun the distribution of AstraZeneca vaccine to all the states of the federation.

He explained that adequate provisions have been made to deploy the vaccines in all the states and vaccination sites where people will be vaccinated as Vaccine Accountability Officers (VAOs) have been designated to supervise the management and utilisation of the vaccine, ensure retrievals of vaccine vials for proper disposal.

Shuaib noted that the state launch of the COVID-19 vaccination for frontline health workers is slated for today while governors will launch the vaccination tomorrow. Also, the statewide rollout of COVID-19 vaccine will commence from March 12.

Meanwhile, members of the PTF on COVID-19 and journalists covering the PTF briefings have received their own doses of AstraZeneca vaccine alongside certificates of vaccination.

Those that also received the jabs included the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire; Minister of Environment, Muhammad Mahmood and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo; the Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu; the PTF National Incident Manager, Dr. Mukhtar Mohammed and Director-General, NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu, among others.

Boss Mustapha who led other members in receiving the vaccine, described it as demonstration of the safety and efficacy, adding that the process of orderly rollout, deployment and administration of the vaccine will test the country’s ability to do things properly and strategically.

Source: This Day