Nigeria has received its first batch of COVID-19 vaccines.
The NAFDAC-approved Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines arrived in the country around noon on Tuesday, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, via an Emirates airline.
Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, had said on Saturday that Nigeria will receive its first tranche of about 4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
On the ground to take delivery of the vaccines were top government officials including the PTF Chairman, Boss Mustapha; the Minister for Health, Osagie Ehanire; the Minister for Information, Lai Mohammed; and the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Chikwe Ihekweazu.
According to a statement by United Nations in Nigeria, the arrival marked a historic step towards the goal to ensure equitable distribution of Covid-19 vaccines globally.
The Personal Assistant to President Buhari on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, confirmed the development on his official Twitter handle.
He wrote, “JUST IN: The first batch of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines has arrived Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.” — Bashir Ahmad
It was gathered that the delivery is part of the first wave of arrivals in Nigeria.
UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, said, “The UN Country Team in Nigeria reiterates its commitment to support the vaccination campaign in Nigeria and help contain the spread of the virus.
“The arrival of these vaccines in Abuja today marks a milestone for the COVAX Facility in its unprecedented effort to deliver at least 2 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines globally by the end of 2021.”
“This is a landmark moment for the country and the COVAX Facility’s mission to help end the acute phase of the pandemic by enabling equitable access to these vaccines across the world. We are glad to see Nigeria is amongst the first receiving the doses from COVAX, thanks to the excellent level of preparedness put in place by the Government of Nigeria,” said Thabani Maphosa, Managing Director for Country Programmes at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
“Gavi looks forward to these vaccines being made available to the people most at risk, as soon as possible, and to ensuring that routine immunization services for other life-threatening infections are also delivered to avoid other disease outbreaks.”
Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, WHO Representative in Nigeria, added, “It is heart-warming to witness this epoch-making event and WHO wishes to congratulate the government of Nigeria for its participation in the global vaccine collaboration (COVAX) efforts and its commitment to protecting Nigerians against this pandemic.
“Vaccines are a critical new tool in the battle against COVID-19; therefore, this is a step in the right direction. These vaccines have undergone rigorous regulatory processes at global and country level and have been deemed safe and effective.”
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency had said it would commence the vaccination of Nigerians on March 12, 2021 adding that Nigerians interested in the vaccination could start registering for it online.
The agency, however, noted that priority would be given to front line healthcare workers and others in administering the vaccines.
