All has been put in place for Nigeria to vaccinate its frontline health workers and support staff, today (Friday) at the National Hospital in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Recall that Control TV earlier reported Nigeria had on Tuesday received 3.924m doses Oxford/AstraZeneca from the COVAX facility.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) team had been given a few vials of the vaccines to analyze over a period of two days (Wednesday, March 3rd and Thursday, March 4th).
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The Executive Director Of The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, on Monday, while reeling out the arrangement to vaccinate Nigerians, had revealed that the frontline health workers would be the first to be vaccinated.
“On Saturday, March 6th, Key Strategic leaders will receive the first dose of the vaccine. On Monday March 8th 2021, more vaccination sites would have been set up at designated locations such as National Assembly clinic, State House clinic and Federal medical centre, Jabi where strategic leaders such as the SGF, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Attorney General of the Federation, Inspector General of Police, the Ministers and Ministers of States, Senators, House of Representatives, traditional leaders and religious leaders would be vaccinated,” Shuaib had said.
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He had further noted that “while the first phase is ongoing, the National team would be ready for the arrival of the next batch of vaccines which would be used for the next phase of vaccination. Phase 2 vaccination process involves vaccination of the elderly from 50 years and above. This has been sub-grouped into 2, with the vaccination of 60 and above occurring first followed by 50 – 59years.
“The phase 3 vaccination process involves vaccination of those between 18 – 49years with co-morbidities (such as hypertension, diabetes, lung disease, other heart diseases, liver or renal disease, etc). Individuals at ages 50 and above with co-morbidities would already have been Immunized within their age group.
“The phase 4 vaccination process would involve vaccination of the rest of the eligible population between the ages 18 – 49years. It is worthy to note that at each phase of vaccination, the level of preparedness of the States are assessed before vaccines are deployed and accountability measures have been put in place to ensure strict compliance to the vaccination process. Pregnant women will be evaluated by their health providers to weigh the benefit versus risk before a decision is taken to vaccinate them.
Meanwhile, the NAFDAC, PTF, the Federal Ministry of Health, NPHCDA and strategic leaders will be at the nation’s first vaccination site today, to witness the event.
© ControlTV 2021.
