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  • FG makes COVID-19 Vaccination compulsory for all Pilgrims to Holy Lands

    FG makes COVID-19 Vaccination compulsory for all Pilgrims to Holy Lands

    …says over 3m Nigerians already vaccinated

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    The Federal Government has made COVID-19 vaccination compulsory for all intending pilgrims to the Holy Lands.
    Executive Secretary of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib made this known Tuesday at the Media briefing on COVID-19 vaccination update in the country.

    Shuaib said, “I would like to remind all Nigerians that evidence of vaccination against COVID-19 is now mandatory for all pilgrims to the holy cities of Saudi Arabia and Jerusalem.”

    “I therefore urge adherents of both religions who are planning to perform pilgrimage next year or in the future, to get vaccinated now to avoid any delays.” This is also to bring to our attention, that as the COVID-19 vaccines become available worldwide, some countries have made vaccination a requirement to gain access to their country, he warned.

    In a like manner the ES announced that ” As at 30th August 2021, Nigeria has so far vaccinated 2,897,201 and 1,430,379 eligible persons with 1st and 2nd doses respectively across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.”

    Shuaib disclosed that the 2nd phase has commenced across the country adding that the Moderna Vaccine is available in all designated health facilities for those who have not had any vaccination.

    Speaking on the vaccines hesistancy surrounding the COVID-19 in Nigeria, he urged people to convince their loved ones, friends and colleagues on the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.

    Furthermore the UK government through the COVAX Facility donated to Nigeria an additional 592,880 doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, on Thursday the 26th of August boosting the number of vaccine doses.

    Meanwhile the WHO Country Representative, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo has commended NPHCDA on the Electronic Management of Immunization Data , EMID, to ease registration and profiling of clients, prior to vaccination and/or during vaccination.

    Mulombo noted that the strategy would aid the availability of real-time data for action and showcasing to the global community how COVID-19 response is improving technology for Primary Health Care (PHC) service delivery in Nigeria.

    He said that this is in line with WHO global call for a moratorium on boosters until at least the end of September, to enable at least 10% of the population of every country to be vaccinated.

    The reason for this call is, vaccine injustice is a shame on all humanity and if we don’t tackle it together, we will prolong the acute stage of this pandemic for years when it could be over in a matter of months, he emphazied.

  • COVID-19: FG set to take action against Nigerians refusing vaccination

    COVID-19: FG set to take action against Nigerians refusing vaccination

    The Federal Government has said it may sanction eligible Nigerians who refuse to take the coronavirus vaccination.

    This was made known by the Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib, at a news briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Shuaib said the government may “apply the basic rule of law” against such people because their actions will be endangering the lives of other people.

    “The Presidential Steering Committee and the Federal Ministry of Health is mapping out ways of making vaccines more available to all Nigerians.

    “Once these vaccines are made available to all Nigerians, we would need to revisit the fairness and liberty that exist around vaccine hesitancy.

    “If some individuals refuse to take the vaccine, hence endangering those who have or those who could not due to medical exemptions, then we have to apply the basic rule of law.

    “So, you have a right to refuse vaccines, but you do not have the right to endanger the health of others,” Shuaib said.

    Recall that Governor Obaseki of Edo state had last week mandated people of the State to take the vaccine.

    He warned that, as from September 15, anyone who has not been vaccinated will not be allowed into public places such as banks and worship centres.

  • COVID-19 3rd Wave: FG to rollout 2rd phase of vaccination mid August – NPHCDA

    COVID-19 3rd Wave: FG to rollout 2rd phase of vaccination mid August – NPHCDA

    … says 40,739 trained health workers on ground to administer vaccination
    …to take vaccination to markets, motor parks , hard to reach areas

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    In a bid to contain the impending third wave of COVID-19 pandemic in the country the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, has announced that it would roll out the second phase of the vaccines on the 16th of August, 2021.

    Executive Director of the NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib who made this know Tuesday in Abuja at the Weekly Media briefing on progress of COVID-19;Vaccination in Nigeria said that next successful vaccines rollout was due to arrival of 4,000,080 doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine donated by the government of the United States has also been approved by NAFDAC for local use.

    Shuaib said that in addition 176,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccines is expected Wednesday August 11th. These 176,000 doses as you are aware, are coming out of the 29,850,000 doses that the Federal Government procured from the AFREXIM Bank through the African Union, he explained.

    “This August Nigeria would get 588,800 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from the COVAX Facility, the first batch of 3.9 million doses to complement the ones on ground and for those waiting to get their second dose and also those wishing to receive their first dose of the vaccine.”
    “AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines are very effective against the Delta variant as cases are beginning to increase in states like Lagos and Akwa Ibom.”

    He said that the over 40,000 trained health workers across the national, state and ward levels to be engaged on the second phase strategic vaccine rollout plan will focus on improving the delivery , communication, , data management , management of vaccines and logistics.
    A total of 3364 teams will be used
    2690 teams manning the fixed posts and 673 manning temporary fixed posts which would go from settlement to settlements especially across areas where people will congregate for example the houses of the traditional leaders, the markets and motor parks.
    The Johnson and Johnson brand requires a single dose for full protection against virus and would be administered in populations in hard to reach areas such as riverine areas and deserts areas.

    The NPHCDA boss who gave assurance that the different brands of vaccines approved by NAFDAC provide adequate protection against the COVID-19 disease said that presently the agency in collaboration with NAFDAC have adopted tracking and tracing monitoring stock strategy across the national and subnational level to ensure vaccines accountability.

    According to the NPHCDA boss the agency would also be adopting “the whole family approach” to integrate the COVID-19 vaccination with other basic PHC services such as childhood vaccination, screening for hypertension, diabetes, malnutrition amid sensitizing residents on improve on personal hygiene, water and environmental sanitation in view of the large number of cases of cholera bedeviling the country.

    Even as we increase the vaccination coverage across Nigeria, Let us continue to observe the non-pharmaceutical measures such as wearing of facemask, physical distancing, and hand hygiene, he admonished Nigerians.

    Meanwhile the World Health Organization, WHO, Country Representative to Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazidi Mulombo said that arrival of the second batch of 4 million doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine donated the United States Government js an important step in the fight against COVID-19 as the country intensify efforts to battle the current third wave of infections.

    Molumbo who said that the third wave of the virus in Africa is not over called on Nigeria double prevention measures to build on the fragile gains achieved amid the country’s low vaccination rate, adding that less than 2% of the entire population is fully vaccinated.

    Therefore, we must be mindful of discontinuing public health and social measures such as maintaining physical distance, avoiding crowded places and always observing hand hygiene. Relaxing them too early could see us losing some of the gains that vaccines have enabled us to make.

    To boost the uptake of vaccines, government, traditional and religious institutions as well as community influencers need to scale up operations, investments on operational costs and step up sensitization efforts to address vaccine hesitancy, he said.

  • Second Phase Of COVID-19 Vaccination To Begin August 16 – NPHCDA

    Second Phase Of COVID-19 Vaccination To Begin August 16 – NPHCDA

    After one postponement, Nigeria is now scheduled to commence the second phase of its COVID-19 vaccination programme on August 16.

    This is according to the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib.

    The Federal Government had earlier scheduled the exercise to begin on Tuesday, but it was postponed due to “unforeseen circumstances,” according to a spokesperson in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey.

    Speaking to Channels Television on Monday, Dr Shuaib suggested the postponement had been necessary for preparations to be finalised.

    “The start date for the vaccination has been postponed to next week Monday,” he said.

    “This is to enable NAFDAC finish its assessment and preparatory processes.”

    The second phase of the vaccination programme was breathed into life after the US donated over four million doses of the Moderna vaccine.

    Only about one percent of the population has been fully vaccinated, so far.

    On Sunday, Nigeria recorded 471 fresh cases of the novel coronavirus as resident doctors across the country continue to strike over unpaid benefits.

    The new cases were reported on Sunday from 13 states, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

    Nigeria has recently seen an uptick in new cases of COVID-19 as fears of a third wave continues to loom.

    To prepare for the surge in new cases, the government has advised Nigerians to adhere to health protocols such as wearing of masks and social distancing, especially in indoor settings.

  • COVID-19: Nigeria set to receive 41.2m doses from July-September – NPHCDA

    COVID-19: Nigeria set to receive 41.2m doses from July-September – NPHCDA

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    Nigeria is set to receive 41. 2 million doses of the COVID- 19 vaccines between the months of July to September 2021.

    Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib made this known today at the agency headquarters in Abuja at a Media Briefing on the progress on COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria. Shuaib said that Nigeria which has gone past vaccinating over 4 million people with the Oxford/ AstraZeneca vaccine is expecting another huge consignment of different vaccines in the next two months.
    He said, “We have also received communication for the delivery of the following vaccine shipments in the coming months.
    “3,924,000 doses of Oxford/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 the COVAX facility.”
    “29,850,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson (Jassen) COVID-19 vaccine by the end of September, that will arrive in batches from the African Union Commission.”
    As a way of ensuring absolute potency of the expected vaccines, Shuaib disclosed that the Federal Government has procured 60 units of U701 Ultra cold chain equipment out of which 37 have been deployed to all the 36 states and the FCT in preparation to received all the COVID-19 vaccines that would need ultra cold temperature of below 40 to 85 degrees. He said this would ensure that anyone who is 18 years and above including pregnant women and lactating mothers are eligible to take the vaccine, adding that people should register and ensure they make themselves available for the vaccination on due dates.

    The NPHCDA boss however advised that peoples should continue with the brand of vaccines they started with, giving the example that if an individual started with Oxford/ AstraZeneca he or she must stick to it and not take Johnson and Johnson at the second dose.

    Meanwhile he revealed that in preparation for local production of the COVID- 19 vaccine in the country the Federal Ministry of Health and stakeholders are committed to support a local partner Biovaccines Nigeria Limited towards local vaccine production.

    Speaking on the recent detection of the Delta Variant of COVID-19 in Nigeria, he advised people to continue to observe non-pharmaceutical or public health measures such as wearing of facemask, social distancing and hand hygiene in order to curb the transmission of the disease, before arrival of additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccines.
    Shuaib said, ” As at July 13, Nigeria has recorded 168,713 cases of the Delta variant , which WHO says is one of the most transmissible of all the COVID-19 variants.
    Furthermore he gave the assurance that the Oxford/ AstraZeneca vaccine currently used in Nigeria is 88% effective for the Delta variant.

    So far Nigeria has recorded 2,124 fatalities of the Delta variant which WHO says has also spread to 104 countries.

  • NPHCDA dispels social media misinformation about COVID-19 vaccination magnetic effects

    NPHCDA dispels social media misinformation about COVID-19 vaccination magnetic effects

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    The Primary Health Care Agency, NPHCD, the agency responsible for vaccinations in Nigeria has finally dispelled all viral social media misinformation about the ongoing COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination in Nigeria.

    Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib at the Weekly Media briefing on progress of COVID-19 vaccination in the country on Tuesday dispelled all social media misinformation targeted at discouraging the vaccination which he said is safe for individuals.

    Shuaib said, “As you may already be aware, we are witnessing an increasing wave of COVID-19 misinformation and disinformation that should leave any patriotic Nigerian wondering how long mischief makers want the world to remain in the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic itself.”

    “The creativity with which some people misinform others and spread misconceptions about COVID-19 vaccination calls for more deliberate, decisive, and consistent steps to counter as well as provide correct and accurate information that will help more people to make informed decision to get vaccinated against COVID-19.”

    He decried the extent at which the right of

    the public to true and accurate information on matters of COVID- 19 vaccination is being threatened by just a few others who are taking advantage of the social media to mislead people about their health.

    The agency condemned the manner in which anti- vaccination elements come up with magnetic conspiracy deceiving the public with videos that COVID-19 vaccines create magnetic field around vaccination sites and can cause the body to light up an electric bulb .

    He said that it is unfortunate vulnerable people believe the the ridiculous conspiracy theory and are taking the risks of avoiding COVID-19 vaccination.

    The agency showed the media a a practical demonstration to dispel the conspiracy magnetic and lighting bulb theories surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine.

    It is necessary to confront the false theories for Nigeria and world to kick out the pandemic and recover from its adversities, he said.

    The agency further dispelled false theories that the vaccines are being used to depopulate Africa, and that anyone who takes the vaccine will die after two years among others.

    The agency compared the COVID-19 vaccine to the polio which was misinformed to cause death of children but that after many years children who took the polio vaccines are still alive and have grown into adults.

    On the success recorded so far about the vaccination in the county, Shuaib said that presently ,495,632 people have been vaccinated with the first dose, while 1,370,130 have received their second dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria, adding that overall, Nigeria has successfully utilized 3.9M doses, representing 96% of the 4,024,000 doses of the vaccines received in the country.

    The UNICEF Country Representative, Dr. Gupta Gangan commended the leadership of NPHCDA for the success far in the vaccination of Nigerians despite the negative mis- information in the social media to create doubts about the COVID- 19 vaccines.

  • Nigeria expecting 3.92m doses of Oxford AstraZeneca vaccines by July ending – NPHCDA

    Nigeria expecting 3.92m doses of Oxford AstraZeneca vaccines by July ending – NPHCDA

    … 680, 345 Nigerians get second dose of vaccine

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib has announced that between July ending and early the second consignment of 3.92 million doses of the Oxford/ AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines will arrive Nigeria.

    Shuaib gave this hint yesterday during the press briefing update on the status of COVID-19 vaccination in the country.

    He said that so far 680, 345 Nigerians have collected their second dose of the COVID- 19 AstraZeneca vaccine and advised Nigerians who have received their first dose to check their vaccination cards for the date of their first dose and ensure that they receive the second dose between 6 – 12 weeks after their 1st dose to gain full protection against COVID-19.

    He called on those who are 18 years and above who has not been vaccinated to visit the nearest vaccination site for their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, for this category of persons their second dose will be due in 12 weeks when Nigeria would have received the next consignment of vaccines, adding that the agency is working with international partners to ensure that the next shipment of vaccines to Nigeria.

    This he noted confirms the US government’s willingness to purchase 500 million doses of the Pfizer- BioNTech vaccine to be donated to low and middle income countries through the next year as well as the MasterCard Foundation which has pledged to donate $1.3 billion for vaccines in Africa over the next three years in partnership with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

    Speaking on the Indian ( Delta) variant B.1.617.2 he said that recent research has shown that it is 92% susceptible to Oxford/Astrazeneca. which confirms that the vaccine used in Nigeria can protect against this variant that caused high morbidity and mortality in India.

    The WHO Country Representative Dr. walter Kazadi Mulombo noted that the threat of the three wave of COVID- 19 is real in the African region including Nigeria.

    Mulombo noted that while the rollout of COVID – 19 is important while intensifying the preventive measures such as observing physical distancing, wearing of masks, avoiding crowds, cleaning of hands and coughing into handkerchief.

  • Nigeria To Receive 29.8 Million Doses Of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine

    Nigeria To Receive 29.8 Million Doses Of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine

    The Nigerian government is expecting about 29.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine, Dr Faisal Shuaib said on Monday.

    Shuaib, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), disclosed this at the weekly media briefing of the COVID-19 Presidential Steering Committee in Abuja.

    He added that the government signed off to receive the vaccines through the African Union (AU), while vaccine deliveries through the COVAX facility were expected by the end of May or early June.

    The NPHCDA boss noted that by then, Nigeria would have completed the process of administering the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine to those who got the first dose.

    He revealed that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has continued discussions with manufacturers to examine their vaccines, in anticipation of emergency use listing from the World Health Organisation.

    Shuaib explained that this was to mitigate the negative concerns about the delayed deliveries of AstraZeneca vaccines, thereby ensuring the sustained supply of vaccines for the smooth continuation of the exercise.

    He noted that as of April 26, a total of 1,173, 869 Nigerians, representing 58.3 per cent of the eligible persons targeted in the first phase have received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

    The NPHCDA boss, however, decried the global scarcity of COVID-19 vaccines due to high demand, especially in countries where the vaccines were being produced.

    According to him, the government anticipates a delay in vaccine supply to Nigeria which may also affect and impact the remaining phases of the vaccination exercise.

  • Governor Dapo Abiodun receives Covid-19 Vaccine, charges Ogun residents

    The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has received a jab of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

    The Governor had earlier announced that Ogun State is the first state in Nigeria to receive a consignment of the vaccines.

    The Governor tweeted on Monday “Taking delivery of AstraZeneca #COVID19 Vaccines in my office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. Our dear State is the first in the Federation to receive the COVID-19 Vaccine consignment,”.

    50,000 doses of the vaccines were received by the state with another batch of the same amount expected to arrive in the state by Tuesday.
    Sharing a video on Twitter showing him taking a jab, Abiodun said, “I just had my dose of the Astra-Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine. The doses were delivered today in Abeokuta. It is first service to self then people, when we take the vaccine because we must silence the virus.”

    He advised people not to see the arrival of the vaccines as an opportunity to throw away their face masks.

    Abiodun said, “We will commence vaccination in line with the scheduled guidelines laid down by NPHCDA. They have identified particular state hospitals, general hospitals, primary health care centres across the state that would be used for this vaccination”.

     

    “I am sure you are aware that there is a portal that already exists and there is a link that allows you to register or preregister and identify your local government so it can as close to the available centre as possible”.

    “We will be prioritising our front line health workers, our elders and we go down the line as stipulated by NPHCDA”.

    “Definitely, we are beginning to see the end of this pandemic that has disrupted our lives like we have never anticipated in the last 13 months.

    “But this is not an opportunity to throw our masks away. This vaccine that we are getting, the protocol is that we get the first shot and then we get the booster shots and it is not until we get that booster shots that we have the required level of immunity”.

    “Even at that, what science tells us is that it is meant to reduce the severity of disease so the COVID-19 protocols and guidelines will still continue to obtain.”

  • Buhari, Osinbajo Receive COVID-19 Vaccine in Aso Villa

    Buhari, Osinbajo Receive COVID-19 Vaccine in Aso Villa

    President Muhammadu Buhari has received the AstraZeneca vaccine, a day after the Federal Government launched the vaccination exercise in the country.

    He took the jab on Saturday at the new Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    The vaccine was administered to the President by his chief personal physician in the presence of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, and some members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    Shortly after President Buhari took the jab, Professor Osinbajo also received the vaccine which was also administered to him by his chief personal physician.

    Both leaders were later presented with electronic cards containing the details of their vaccinations by the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib.

    Others who witnessed the vaccination of the President and his vice were members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu.

    The vaccination took place a day after Nigeria formally commenced the exercise with the inoculation of four frontline healthcare workers.

    During the exercise which took place at the National Hospital, a medical doctor, Ngong Cyprian, made history as the first person to receive the vaccine in Nigeria, while three other frontline health workers – Dr Nuru Joseph, Dr Thairu Yunusa, and Nurse Faith Eragbai, were also vaccinated.

    Dr Shuaib had hinted that President Buhari and his vice would take the vaccines on March 6 when he was briefing reporters on Thursday.

    He added that members of the President’s cabinet, which included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and ministers, would take the jabs on Monday.