Nigeria to receive over 1 million J&J Covid-19 doses monthly
Written by Sarah Osanyinlusi on September 28, 2021
The Federal Government is expected to receive over 1 million doses of the Johnson and Johnson Covid-19 vaccine monthly from the end of October 2021 procured through the African Union, AU.
Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Covid-19, PSC, Boss Mustapha made this known on Monday at the national briefing in Abuja.
He affirmed that over 3.5 million doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine are expected from the United States Government this month while about 4 million doses of AstraZeneca are also expected early next month.
Mustapha says the Federal Government will investigate reports of fraudulent activities of extortion by airport officials raised by international passengers about persons willing to evade quarantine.
The PSC Chairman says authorities are conducting an investigation into various reports received and appropriate sanctions will be meted on the defaulting officers
He called for caution and continuous adherence to the non-pharmaceutical measures, vaccination, and protocols on self-isolation as Covid-19 is still virulent and deadly.
The PSC thanked the outgoing Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu for his diligence, professionalism, and commitment to duty as he makes his last appearance at the national briefing.
The PSC urged him to continue to be good ambassador for Nigeria as he resumes his new role at the World Health Organization, WHO.
Meanwhile, Executive-Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA says over 1.8 million Nigerians have been fully vaccinated 6 months after the flag-off exercise was launched in the country.
According to him, as of Sunday, September 26, 2021, a total number of 4,734,769 Nigerians have received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
The breakdown shows that 3,040,000 have received the first dose of AstraZeneca while 1,694,769 have taken the first jab of Moderna which represents 4.2% of the 111,776,503 eligible population who are targeted to receive full doses of the vaccines for Nigeria to attain herd immunity.
NPHCDA boss says out of the total vaccinated, 1,892,092 eligible persons have received their second dose of which 1,825,739 have been fully vaccinated with AstraZeneca while 66,353 eligible persons have been fully vaccinated with Moderna.
On vaccine card racketeering, Shuaib warned those who fraudulently acquire Covid-19 cards without receiving the vaccine, describing the act of aiding, buying, and selling of Covid-19 vaccines cards as a criminal offence.
He assured that State Governments will be supported to strengthen their monitoring mechanism
Shuaib reiterates that vaccines administered in Nigeria are recognised and approved by the world regulatory body.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
