…TO ADMINISTER VACCINE ON FRONTLINE WORKERS, 55YEARS AND ABOVE IN FIRST, 2ND PHASES
The Federal Government through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency has concluded arrangements to administer the COVID 19 Vaccine expected in the country on frontline workers and citizens of the age of 55 and above in the first and second phases respectively.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who made the comment at the end of the virtual meeting of the Governors said that persons with underlying medical conditions and other target group would be captured under the third and second phases.
He said that Nigeria was among 12 African countries out of 92 countries that have indicated readiness to receive the first shipment of the vaccine by the end of February.
He said, “Nigeria is among 12 countries in Africa that have indicated readiness of the 92 qualified countries for the facility and will by end of February 2021 receive its first shipment of vaccines.
“The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has indicated that vaccines will be administered in four (4) phases, based on vaccine type and availability, initially for frontline health workers, then the aged (55yrs and above), persons with underlying medical conditions and other target groups.”
Governor Fayemi said that the NGF has set up a team of experts led by a leading Virologist and former Vice-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University of Nigeria, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, to advice the forum on the procurement and administration of the vaccine in the country.
Fayemi briefed the forum on a meeting
with Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Chair of the Board of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, on the rollout of the COVAX facility, a global risk-sharing mechanism co-led by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and the World Health Organization to facilitate pooled procurement and the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines across developing countries.
The forum disassociated itself from the controversial pronouncements made by the Governor òf Kogi State, Yahaya Bello on the COVID 19 vaccine.
“On the ill-fated pronouncement made by a member of the Forum regarding the Covid-19 vaccine in a national daily, the Forum totally and categorically dissociated itself from the statement, emphasizing that the Forum will continue to be informed and guided by science and will ensure that every decision it takes retains public and professional trust and is not compromised by conflicts of interest.”