The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that everyone will have access to safe coronavirus vaccines to stem the pandemic in the nearest future.
The assurance was given by the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, at a town hall meeting of the North Central zone in Lafia on Tuesday.
The town hall meeting on vaccination was organised by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, PHCDA.
Ehanire also assured that the AstraZeneca vaccine currently being administered was very safe, adding that the government would only allow safe vaccines into the country even in the future.
“Our mission here today is to reassure the traditionalists, faithful and community leaders that the vaccines Nigeria uses are tested and safe.
”And we urge leaders to recommend it to families and communities as the best protection against the dreaded disease,” he said.
According to the minister, the government and other relevant authorities had put the necessary machinery in motion to ensure that 70 per cent of eligible citizens were vaccinated in the next two years.
“We must contribute to the desired 70 per cent to be vaccinated and not just an act of individual self-protection but a civic duty to curtail the spread of the virus.
“Every one of us have a role in the effort to stem the virus by being vaccinated, promote vaccination and observe the safety protocols of wearing face mask, regular hand washing with soap and maintaining physical distancing,” he said.
