COVID-19 VACCINATION: Anxiety over security, logistics, climate challenges
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By Chioma Obinna
Despite the euphoria generated by last Tuesday’s arrival of COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria, some challenges may affect the successful vaccination of Nigerians, findings by Sunday Vanguard revealed.
After several postponements of arrival dates, the country received
3.94 million doses of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine on March 2, 2021.
The country intends to vaccinate 70 percent of its 200 million people to effectively get the required immunity against COVID-19 infection.
According to the Director of National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, doses of vaccines would be arriving in batches due to limited supply. Richer countries have gone far with vaccinations, leaving poorer countries behind.
On Thursday, the Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib, had hinted that President Buhari would take the vaccine on March 6, 2021.
He noted that the President would take the vaccine along with the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, a day after Nigeria commenced the vaccination exercise.
Shuaib 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.
The vaccination exercise was flagged-off on Friday by the SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha, on behalf of the President at the National Hospital in Abuja.
During the exercise, 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.
The governor noted, “I will take mine. If I take mine and I am okay, that will give confidence to Edo people.
“The preventive protocols will still be in place; don’t forget that it will take a while to vaccinate almost 80 percent of the population, which is expected to be vaccinated.
“The fact that you have taken the vaccine does not mean you should be careless, not wear a mask or not protect yourself because many more people may have not received their own vaccination.”
“We will continue to insist and advocate that our people conduct themselves and comply with directives to prevent COVID-19 from spreading”
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