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  • Buhari To Take COVID-19 Vaccine Today

    Buhari To Take COVID-19 Vaccine Today

    President Muhammadu Buhari will take the AstraZeneca vaccine at 11:30am on Saturday.

    The Personal Assistant to the President on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, disclosed this in a tweet.

    In a bid to provide more details on the development, Ahmad shared a graphic design that indicated that the vaccine would be administered to the President at the new Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    The position of the presidential aide was supported by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

    In a tweet on Friday, the health agency confirmed the time and venue where the President would take the vaccine.

     

  • Nobody Is Safe Until Everyone Is Vaccinated – Boss Mustapha

    Nobody Is Safe Until Everyone Is Vaccinated – Boss Mustapha

    Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha says nobody is safe from COVID-19 infection until everyone is vaccinated.

    The SGF said this on Friday during the formal rollout of COVID-19 vaccines at the National Hospital in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    “For us in Nigeria and indeed nations of the world, the lessons to be drawn from this lack of discrimination by the virus are numerous. They include the fact that we must approach the vaccine phase with the unity of purpose.

    “We must understand that nobody is safe until everyone is vaccinated. We must recognise that vaccine hesitancy will impact negatively on our lives and those of our loved ones if allowed to foster.

    “We must demonstrate at all times that this is a war for the survival of everyone. We must believe our government on the safety and efficacy of the vaccines brought to Nigeria,” he said.

    He also called on everyone to support the plan and systematic roll-out of the vaccine and mobilise citizens across states in the country.

    Mustapha who is also the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 added that frontline health workers will be prioritised in receiving jabs from the first batch of vaccine received.

    “They have fought hard to save us. They laid down their lives for us. And in the ICUs and treatment centers, they became our last line of defense,” he said while applauding their efforts.

    Nigeria joined the league of countries to vaccinate their citizens against coronavirus (COVID-19) as four health workers took the jabs on Friday.

    An event organised by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to flag off the exercise held at the National Hospital in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), who is also the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha, launched the exercise on behalf of the President.

  • PHOTOS: Nigeria Set To Commence COVID-19 Vaccination

    Preparations are ongoing in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ahead of the commencement of the COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria.

    The exercise is scheduled to kick off in the country on Friday at the National Hospital in Abuja, where the frontline health workers there will be the first set of people to be vaccinated.

    This comes three days after Nigeria received the first batch of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines from COVAX, a World Health Organisation (WHO)-backed initiative set up to procure and ensure equitable distribution of vaccines for free among countries across the world.

    The first shipment of 3,924,000 doses of the vaccines arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Tuesday afternoon via an Emirates airplane from India.

    Ahead of the distribution, the Federal Government had said the vaccines would be administered in the order of priority, with the frontline health workers on the top of the list.

    It noted that it would also consider the elderly and the strategic leaders in the country – such as the President and other key public office holders in the country.

    The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, had explained how the vaccines would be distributed and the conditions attached at a presidential briefing held on Thursday at the State House in Abuja.

    He had revealed that the President, Muhammadu Buhari, and the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, would take their vaccine shots on Saturday – a day after the health workers were administered the vaccines.

    While the actual time for the inoculation of the two leaders had yet to be disclosed, the NPHCDA hinted that members of the Federal Executive Council would be vaccinated on Monday next week.

    They include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, and ministers among others.

    SEE PHOTOS;

  • States yet to meet conditions won’t get COVID-19 vaccines – FG

    States yet to meet conditions won’t get COVID-19 vaccines – FG

    The Federal Government has said states who have not met the criteria for vaccine safety won’t get share of the about four million doses of AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccines in the country.

    Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib, disclosed this at a State House briefing in Abuja on Thursday.

    He also said the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari; and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, will receive shots of the vaccines on Saturday to dissipate vaccine hesitancy amongst Nigerians.

    Shuaib said, “After we are able to get our strategic leaders to publicly demonstrate that these vaccines are safe, the plan is to now go to the state level to start the launch at the treatment centres of the states and also get strategic leaders such as governors to publicly take the vaccines.

    “By the time all of these happen, we will have finished all of the necessary preparations, we will have created a dashboard that will track very carefully the status of the preparedness of the states.

    “We will not be sending vaccines to the states that have not fulfilled all of the criteria that will ensure that if the vaccines get to the states, they are going to be safe.

    “For example, we have communicated to the states that they have to wrap up their security around their cold stores because these are very valuable vaccines and we do not want a situation where vaccines are taken to the states and criminal elements take advantage to vandalise these cold stores.

    “We are also aware that during the #EndSARS vandalisation, there were some cold stores that actually suffered. I know that the state governors are trying to fix those but we have to verify that those are ready to receive our vaccines.

    “We are working with the sub-national level; we are in conversation with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to see how Nigerians can rapidly get their vaccines. It is very critical that we roll out rapidly so that we can cut into any kind of mutation that can lead to the development of resistance against our vaccines.”

    The NPHCDA boss also enjoined Nigerians who wish to receive the vaccines to register on the website of the agency.

     

  • States ready as 2.3 million register for vaccination in 24 hours

    No fewer than a 2.3 million Nigerians have registered for COVID-19 vaccination 24 hours after a portal for that purpose was launched, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) said on Wednesday.

    Through the platform, Nigerians can choose a health facility that is closest to them to get vaccinated and generate a unique pre-vaccination identifier issued via the agency’s website https://nphcdaict.com.ng/publicreg.

    NPHCDA Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Faisal Shuaib, said: “Nigerians are showing enthusiasm about wanting to take the vaccines.”

    Shuaib said the vaccination must not be delayed, as that may increase the virus mutation and resistance to vaccines.

    He said during an interview on Channels: “The AstraZeneca vaccine was paused in South Africa because it was found from a study that it was not effective against the South African strain (B 1.351) of the COVID-19. But that strain is the dominant strain in South Africa.

    “The NCDC, working with other research institutions, has been looking for this strain in Nigeria but has not found it.

    “If any passenger coming from South Africa and the United Kingdom is found positive for COVID-19, their sample is further tested through genomic sequencing to find out if this virus strain is in the positive sample.

    “What has been found in Nigeria are a few strains of the UK virus. The UK virus is susceptible to the AstraZeneca vaccine. Therefore, we will continue to use the AstraZeneca vaccine.

    “This underscores the need for us to roll out the vaccination on time because the more we delay the vaccination, the higher the tendency that these viruses will mutate and will become resistant to the vaccine.

    “We have made out plans for the rollout of the vaccine, but the next important needed step will be how we will collaborate with the states and the local government areas to make sure that this delivery system is successful and is done very efficiently.

    “At this point, we do not have concerns about the efficacy of the vaccine against the strains of the COVID-19 viruses that exist in Nigeria.”

    Lagos, Delta, Katsina, Plateau, Edo, Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Anambra, Niger, Kwara, Edo, Imo and Ebonyi were among states that said they were ready for the vaccination.

    Their officials spoke with our correspondents in separate interviews.

    Delta Commissioner for Health, Dr Ononye Mordi, said the state has 600 facilities for vaccine storage.

    He said the state would leverage the system put in place for its immunisation programme, which he described as robust.

    Permanent Secretary, Katsina Ministry of Health, Dr Kabir Mustapha, said the state had made adequate preparations to receive the vaccines.

    Plateau Commissioner of Health, Dr Ndam Nimkong Lar, said he was on his way to Abuja to take delivery of the vaccine.

    Edo has already received its allocation of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

    Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, said the vaccine was in the custody of the state government.

    He said: “The Edo State Government is in custody of doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines received from the Federal Government for distribution in the state.

    “We are preparing a local distribution network for rolling out the vaccines in line with the national plan.”

    The Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Iniobong Ememobong, said the state has functional cold-chain facilities to store the vaccine.

    Oyo Commissioner for Health, Dr Bashir Bello, said: “We have the facilities to store it.”

    Executive Secretary of the Kwara Primary Healthcare Agency, Dr Nusirat Elelu, said the state would train health workers ahead of the vaccination exercise.

    Anambra Commissioner for Health, Dr Vincent Okpala, said the state immunised over 5.5 million persons for yellow fever recently.

    He said: “We are not joking in this state. The facilities are still there. Anambra is the number one state on such matters. We are ready for the vaccine.”

    Ogun said it has put the necessary things in place to ensure proper handling of its portion of the vaccine.

    Imo said it has installed solar-powered refrigerators in the 305 wards to store the vaccines, according to the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba.

    Lagos Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said the state was fully prepared to receive COVID-19 vaccines in terms of logistics and cold-chain management.

    “In terms of storage facilities and rollout, we are ready. We are only waiting for the Federal Government. We already have a committee in place that is preparing the ground for it,” Omotoso said.

    Ebonyi Commissioner for Health, Daniel Umezuruike, said the state had also installed solar-powered refrigerators in all the selected primary health care centres in each of the wards.

    Director-General of the Cross River Primary Healthcare Management Agency, Dr Janet Ekpeyong, said the state has a functional storage facility in the state capital.

  • NPHCDA begins online registration of Nigerians for COVID-19 vaccination

    NPHCDA begins online registration of Nigerians for COVID-19 vaccination

    The National Primary Health Care Development Agency has commenced online registration of Nigerians interested in taking COVID-19 vaccination ahead of the Tuesday arrival of the first batch of the nation’s vaccines.

    The agency disclosed this in a series of messages posted on its Twitter handle, @NphcdaNG, on Monday.

    “We have provided an e-registration link to enable Nigerians (to) register for the #COVID19Vaccine themselves, obtain their pre-vaccination numbers and schedule their preferred date and time for vaccination,” one of the messages quoted the agency’s Executive Director, Faisal Shuaib, as saying.

    “To register for #COVID19 Vaccination, visit our website https://t.co/RVn9HsK1Ga and click on COVID-19 Vaccination e-registration,” another message read.

    The agency however made it clear that in the first phase of the vaccination, health care workers, frontline workers, including the military, police, oil and gas workers, Nigerians at the border posts, and strategic leaders among others will be prioritised.

    In another message, the NPHCDA disclosed that a female healthcare professional, Osindeinde Abodede, emerged the first person to register for the vaccination.

    “Congratulations, Mrs. Osindeinde Ademilayo Abosede, a frontline health care professional. She is the first to register for the #COVID19 Vaccination,” the message read.

  • NPHCDA assures Nigerians that COVID-19 vaccines investment would strengthen PHC

    NPHCDA assures Nigerians that COVID-19 vaccines investment would strengthen PHC

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    The Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency , NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib has assured Nigerians that investment in the procurement of COVID-19 vaccine, the logistics, delivery and administration processes has the dual benefit of protection against COVID-19 infection and strengthening the country’s primary health care system.

    Shuaib said this recently during a NPHCDA meeting with religious leaders in Abuja on COVID- 19 vaccines sensitization at the community level.
    This was contained in a press release signed by Muhammed Ohitoto, Head, Public Relations of NPHCDA and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday.

    He further explained that the expected engagement of additional healthcare workers to administer the vaccine and ensure non-disruption of routine services, the intensive capacity building and the acquisition of new and additional cold chain equipment will contribute immensely to strengthening the PHC system.

    According to the NPHCDA boss such holistic approach to health system strengthening, driven through the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 is based on global standards and it’s in line with observations and recommendations of donors and development partners.


    He however said that any contrary report the vaccines investment approach does not prioritize strengthening of the health system stems from a lack of complete understanding of the health system and should be disregarded.
    He was optimistic that irrespective of challenges, long after the country has overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, the lessons learnt, the new skills acquired by health workers and the infrastructural improvements would place the country in better stead to manage future pandemics.

    He also explained that low and medium income countries like Nigeria would have fair and equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine, adding that the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire is also engaged with the African Union through the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team to ensure this success.

    He further assured Nigerians that the Federal Government is committed to securing safe, efficient and cost effective COVID-19 vaccines to stop ongoing community transmission of the virus.

    In the same way the PTF has called on State governments to put all the necessary logistics in place to ensure a successful vaccination exercise.

    Meanwhile, traditional leaders in Nigeria have pledged their support for the COVID-19 vaccine introduction in the country, urging the Federal Government to procure adequate quantities of the vaccine.

    His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto has urged Nigerians to get vaccinated as soon as safe, effective NAFDAC certified vaccines are available.
    He also stressed the need to disregard rumours about the vaccine and rely only on information from credible sources for decision making.

  • FG to import first 100,000 doses of COVID- 19 vaccine by January- NPHCDA

    FG to import first 100,000 doses of COVID- 19 vaccine by January- NPHCDA

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    As a way of slowing down and interrupting the transmission of the COVID-19 outbreak across the country the Federal Government is set to import the first consignment of 100,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine into the country by the end of January, 2021.

    This was disclosed at a virtual meeting organized by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, with the media yesterday.

    Chairman of the Technical Working Group for the COVID-19 vaccine and Director of Disease Control and Immunization at NPHCDA, Dr Bassey Okposen disclosed that the 100,000 doses of the BioN Tech- Pfizer COVID19 will arrive the country by the end of January and  would commence the first set of vaccination  of Nigerians  by March, 2021

    Okposen said, the COVAX vaccine, which is preferred by Nigerian Government would be introduced into the country by NPHCDA in four phases due to available quantity.

    He explained that the vaccine use is going to be prioritized in the order of health workers, the elderly, people with co- morbid conditions like diabetes, hypertension and so on.

    In 2021, 84,655 people to be vaccinated and in 2022 an additional 65 million Nigerians to be immunized.

    According to him, government is targeting 50,000 health workers during the first phase of immunization, adding that each person is required be administered two doses and the second dose will be administered 21 days after the first dose.

    He  said that the country is working very hard to ensure that the vaccines and will undergo the World Health Organization’s (WHO) pre-qualification and NAFDAC certification before they can be used.

    There would be accountability in the use of the vaccines which have 95% efficacy and it will be give free of charge. 

    Health workers will be properly trained on how to administer the vaccine.

    We need to let our people know that the Nigerian government will not do anything that is harmful to Nigerians and appealed to Nigerians not to reject the vaccines when they arrive into the country.

    Speaking on the caseloads of infections recorded so far in the country, Professor Oyewale Tomori, an  Epideomoligist said that the real number is way above those tested in the country, adding that the number announced is a tip of the iceberg.

    Observing protocols is to stop the virus from spreading, the COVID-19 situation in Nigeria is very serious, Tomori noted.

  • NPHCDA distributes motorcycles, laptops to immunization Frontline workers, ensure no child is left behind- Dr Shuaib

    NPHCDA distributes motorcycles, laptops to immunization Frontline workers, ensure no child is left behind- Dr Shuaib

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    In an effort to boost routine immunization in the country, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), has commissions 456 laptops and motorcycles.

    The laptops and motorcycles are meant to support frontline health workers in states that are not doing well in immunization coverage.

    The motorcycles and computers are also meant to enhance the Routine Immunization Officers’ ability for supportive supervision of service providers, and support the generation and on-site utilization of programme data to continuously improve the quality of the immunization programme in Nigeria.

    The World Bank and the World Health Organization (WHO), supported the initiative.

    Speaking at the commissioning ceremony in Abuja, weekend, the Executive Director of the NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, applauded the World Bank and WHO for the support, stressing that the COVID-19 lockdown had dramatically affected routine immunization and indeed, Primary Health Care (PHC) services in the country.

    “We experienced a situation where the lockdown prevented people from being able to access primary healthcare centres. So, there was a decline in practically all primary health care services.

    “As at the last time we checked our data, we have now started to see that PHC services, especially, routine immunization, is going back to the levels that they used to be before the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “Never before in the history of Nigeria have we seen more than a doubling of routine immunization coverage within such a short period.

    “Today, as we try to improve and get even beyond where we are today, we are donating these motorcycles and laptops to frontline workers.

    “Only three years ago when we declared a state of emergency on the low routine immunisation coverage, we also recognised that it was going to take more than rhetoric to make sure that we achieve our ambition of ensuring that no child in Nigeria is left behind when it comes to getting all the vaccines that they need to grow into healthy and productive adults in our society.

    “This is why we are working with the World Bank and our partners; we decided to ask ourselves why routine immunisation has been so poor. We realised that there was a need for us to provide frontline workers with the tools that they need.

    “The tools that they need is part of what we are giving out today in terms of making sure that they have the logistics to get to the last mile, making sure that they have the equipment to be able to manage data,” Dr. Faisal, said.

    He, however, disclosed that his agency has, in the last two years, reduced the difference between administrative data and survey data to less than 20 percent.”

    Speaking while commissioning the laptops and the motorcycles, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, maintained that primary health care is the foundation of the health system of any country.

    He commended the Executive Director of the NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal, for the success recorded in the agency since he assumed office.

    “It thus gives me great pleasure to see the NPHCDA pursuing its mandate to implement a system-wide plan to enhance the immunization programme and ramp up coverage especially in poor performing states, to accelerate achievement UHC objectives which I commend.

    “A particularly important part of improving immunization service delivery is the provision of logistics management support which will improve accountability, supportive supervision, demand generation and assurance of vaccine availability and access in the target states,” Ehanire noted.