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• Nigeria Records Zero Death One Month After Rollout
• Behind Target, Schedule, Says Tomori
• 8,439 Nigerians Exhibit Mild Side Effects
• WHO To Scale Up Pressure On Countries Hoarding Vaccine
• NPHCDA Reviews Eligibility Period
• Nothing Inappropriate With Two Months Gap, Says Guild Of Medical Directors
More reasons have emerged why Nigeria cannot have enough COVID-19 vaccines to reach the proposed 70 per cent of its population by the end of next year.
Until now, The Guardian investigation revealed that the country has taken delivery of only 3.92 million doses of Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine and expended just over one million as first doses, while nobody has received the second booster dose, which is supposed to be administered within four weeks of the first.
Shortage of COVID-19 vaccines has raised the stakes for persons who desperately want it, particularly for travel purposes. This has raised fears of fakery by elements in China as well as hoarding and extortion by local officials.
The latest reports from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) indicate that just over 718,412 Nigerians and foreigners alike have received the first dose of COVID-19-vaccine. This figure is largely insignificant, compared to the challenge of quickly vaccinating 70 per cent of the 200-million strong population to achieve herd immunity. x
The situation has raised questions regarding what is delaying the remainder of the 3.9 million doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccines from being administered one month after delivery? How many states have exhausted their shares and what are the challenges for states that are yet to exhaust their shares? When is the second dose due for those who have received thei
• Medical Guild Decries Vaccine Nationalism By West
After several months of waiting, Nigeria eventually began nationwide COVID-19 vaccination last week Friday, in Abuja. But despite the excitement that greeted the occasion, there are several concerns and unanswered questions over the vaccination. x
Besides, accessing COVID-19 vaccines has become an issue, especially with Western countries trying to ‘own’ them.
Also, it has been alleged that the West wants to ‘fleece’ developing nations, particularly African countries of their foreign reserves domiciled in Europe through the vaccines, coupled with the politics involved in accessing the vaccines, as the West buys up more than they need, leaving other countries struggling to access them.
Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari (second left), being vaccinated with the Astrazeneca COVID-19 vaccine by the Chief Nursing Officer, State House Clinic, Esther Ibrahim-Tukur, in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: PHILIP OJISUA
• Austria suspends jabs with batch of AstraZeneca vaccine after one person died, another fell ill after taking shots
• ‘Nigeria expecting next batch of COVID-19 vaccines in May, which may be sizable compared to initial delivery’
• Gambari, Marwa, Mustapha, ministers, PTF members, journalists receive first doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to further demonstrate its safety, efficacy • PTF begins deployment of vaccines to states today
Concerns over safety of COVID-19 vaccines surged yesterday when Austria reportedly suspended vaccinations with a batch of AstraZeneca’s vaccine as a precaution following the death of one person and the illness of another after the shots.