Nigeria is to receive over twenty-nine million doses of the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine through the Africa Union.
The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA Dr. Faisal Shuaib stated this at the national briefing of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 in Abuja.
The Executive Director of NPHCDA who did not disclose the time of the arrival of the vaccines said it would address the delay in the supply of the AstraZeneca Vaccines to Nigeria due to its scarcity witnessed globally.
He said as a result of the delay, the Federal Government rationalized the vaccines by preserving fifty percent of available doses for the administration of the second dose.
On his part, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, who warned against the patronage of fake and unapproved COVID-19 vaccines also noted that the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 had scaled up surveillance across the country to guard against criminal elements involved in such acts.
Dr Ehanire also urged Nigerians to keep observing the COVID-19 protocols irrespective of the low cases recorded each day as the pandemic was not yet over.
He explained that countries such as India, Turkey and Brazil who are experiencing a third wave have demographic similarities with Nigeria which calls for concerns.
He also called for caution even as the Muslim faithful will soon observe the Sallah celebration.
Highlight of the briefing was the Presentation of the donation of Sixty-thousand test kits for COVID-19 response by the Victim Support Fund
RN