The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has dispelled fears that Nigerians might not be keen on being vaccinated against COVID-19, disclosing that no fewer than 2.3million persons had in the first 24 hours registered to take the jab.
Although there are fears over the safety of the vaccines, the Executive Director of NPHCDA, Faisal Shuaib, said there is enthusiasm in Nigeria over Monday’s arrival of 4million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
Shuaib: “I can tell you that there is a lot of excitement (about the vaccine arrival).
“I know some people have their concerns and we are trying but I want to give you an example of the enthusiasm that Nigerians are showing around wanting to take these vaccines,” he said during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
He said: “Around midday on Monday, when we launched the e-registration platform, in less than 24 hours, we already had up to 2.3m Nigerians who had registered. And that number continues to increase.”
While the arrival of the first batch of vaccines was a major boost in Nigeria’s fight against the disease which has infected over 150,000 people in the country, Shuaib said there is still much work to be done.
Shuaib said: “So, we take that very seriously and this is why we are going to be working very hard.”
He added: “Yes, the vaccines are here, but there is even harder work that needs to go on to make sure that we deliver the vaccines into the arms of Nigerians in a way that is respectful, in a way that is stress-free.”
He explained that the agency has put plans in place for the rollout of the vaccine, adding that it is only waiting for the approval of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
He continued: “So, we are waiting on NAFDAC. We feel that they are going to do all of the checks that are necessary and once they give us the green light, we will be ready to roll out the vaccines.”
Priority Group
The NPHCDA boss also dismissed rumours that the vaccines have been allocated to only influential persons in the society, maintaining that frontline health workers and those exposed to the virus would be given priority in the administration of the vaccination.
“I will tell you categorically that we have not allocated these vaccines to the rich people or to the people in the urban areas, absolutely not. Mr President has been very clear,” Shuaib assured.
“Mr Vice President has also added his voice and the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force has communicated this in the Presidential Task Force media briefings.
“He has made it very clear in terms of who we are going to prioritise and I will repeat it here again that the first group of people who are going to be taking these vaccines are those people who have sacrificed in the last one year taking care of all Nigerians that have come down with COVID-19. So, the frontline health workers first.
“On Friday, we are going to be launching the vaccines. We are going to be rolling them out at the treatment centres at the national hospital. Our priority will be the health workers that are frontline. We are going to be giving these vaccines to first responders.”
Aside from health workers, he noted that some leaders would be vaccinated.
This, he said, would convince more Nigerians to take the shots.
“We are going to be looking at those strategic leaders like Mr President and the Vice-President, those people who will also want to take the vaccines publicly so that they can motivate the followers to take the vaccines, to convince them that the vaccines are very safe.”