By Joyce Remi- Babayeju
The Federal Government of Nigeria today received a consignment of 2 million doses of the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine donated by Team European Union countries.
The handover of 2 million doses of J&J vaccines was donated by Team EU comprising of Finland, Greece and Slovenia to Nigeria via COVAX .
Ambassador of EU, Ambassador Samuel Isopi at the point of delivery at the National Cold Store in Abuja said, ” These 2 million doses are donated by Team EU comprising of Finland , Greece and Slovenia. They are part of a global donation of almost 20 million doses of J& J from the EU.”
According to Isopi, thee Team Europe approach is about the European Union and it’s member states joining forces and pooling together their resources to support partner countries in the common fight against the pandemic .adding that ” Because nobody is safe until everybody is safe”.
Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib who received the vaccines on behalf of the Federal Government appreciated the European Union’s gesture towards eradication of COVID-19 from Nigeria.
Shuaib said that Nigeria will be focusing the J&J vaccines at the moment on those who are in the hard-to-reach areas (riverine areas, desert areas and security compromised areas.
This he explained is because the Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires only a single dose for full vaccination, adding that health workers will be able to do what is called a ‘touch and go’ without comprising on their safety.
He also promised that Nigeria is committed to a safe, equitable and effective COVID-19 vaccination program.
Meanwhile Nigeria has vaccinated 15,792,392 (14.1%) of her eligible population with the 1st dose.
We are using the platform of COVID-19 vaccination to also make available access to other primary healthcare interventions, Shuaib explained.
