FG expects 42 million COVID-19 vaccine doses - NPHCDA

 

The Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Faisal Shuaib has disclosed that the federal government is expecting 42 million doses of  COVID-19 vaccines to battle the disease in the country. 

 

Shuaib said this at the press conference of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja on Tuesday January 5. 

 

Noting that the 42 million doses would only cover 20 per cent of the country’s population, the health agency director added that 100,000 doses of the vaccines would be received by the country at the end of this month.

 

The vaccines would first be given to frontline health workers, first responders, national leaders, people vulnerable to coronavirus and the elderly.

 

Shuaib said; 

 

“Through Covax facility, we expect to receive apprioximately 100,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech  vaccine by the end of January. A letter announcing this allocation is being expected this week.

"Also through Covax facility, Nigeria is expected to secure  free delivery of 42 million doses of vaccines, which will be a combination of all the available and approved vaccines currently in the market.

 “In order to achieve eradication of COVID-19 in Nigeria, we need to cover 70 per cent of the total population with COVID-19 vaccines. Forty per cent will be vaccinated in 2021, while 30 per cent will be covered in 2022.

“The priority will be given to frontline health workers, first responders (security), strategic country  leadership, those with co-morbidities.”