The Executive Secretary of the National Primary Health Development Agency (NPHCDA),Dr Faisal Shuaib, Tuesday said the 4,024000 doses of Oxford/AxtraZeeneca vaccine Nigeria received from COVAX facility has been utilised.
At a press conference held at the headquarters of the agency in Garki, Abuja , Dr Shuaib said Nigeria has successfully vaccinated 3,938, 945 eligible persons across 36 states and FCT, representing 98% utilisation.
Giving a breakdown, he said it comprises of 2,534,205 people who have been vaccinated for first dose, and 1,404, 205 people who have received their second dose of the vaccine.
He stated that in the course of the exercise, Nigeria recorded 14,550 cases of mild /moderate Adverse Event Following Immunisation (AEFI), with 1,478 cases considered to be severe. He added that there was no case of death associated with COVID-19 vaccination.
Dr Shuiab said: “Accordingly, the country has officially ended the first phase of its strategic COVID-19 vaccination plan and is now preparing to commence the second phase in the next few weeks.”
On the expected delivery of vaccines for the next phase, he said the agency has received communication on shipments in the coming months.
The expected vaccines are as follows:3,924,000 doses of AstraZeneca by end of July or early August 2021 from the COVAX facility, 3,930,910 doses of Pfizer-Bio-N Tech COVID-19 vaccine in August from the COVAX facility donated by the United States Government, 3,577, 860 doses of Pfizer-Bio-N Tech COVID-19 vaccine in Q3 from COVAX facility, 29,850,000 doses of Johnson and Johnson (Jassen) COVID-19 VACCINE by the end of September, that will arrive in batches from the African Union Commission.
Dr Faisal stated further that the NPHCDA is putting in place all necessary logistics for storage, distribution, security, and accountability for the range of vaccines expected.
He said: “The Federal Government of Nigeria has procured 60 units of U701 ultra cold chain equipment, and as we speak, about 37 of them have been deployed to all 36 states and FCT in preparation to receive all COVID-19 vaccines that would require ultra-cold temperature of below 40 to 85 degrees.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) representative, Dr Walter Mulombo and UNICEF country representative, Gagan Gupta, commended Nigeria for ensuring a seamless vaccination in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Dr Malombo urged Nigeria to ensure it does not lose the gain it made in the fight against COVID-19 with assurance that WHO will give Nigeria all the support it may need in the fight against the virus.