Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 briefing on Tuesday explained why it directed states to put vaccination on hold once they used half of the doses allocated to them.
The Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora, who said this at a briefing on Tuesday, stated that there was no confirmation yet on the timeframe for delivery of second batch of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
He further stressed that it was important that those who already received their first jab complete their vaccination.
“In a situation where we still cannot determine when the next batch of AstraZeneca vaccine will arrive, it is better for us to vaccinate people fully.”
The minister noted that two doses of the vaccination must be taken, in line with global protocols.
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) clarified that AstraZeneca vaccine and Johnson & Johnson vaccine could not be taken by the same individual.
The NPHCDA Chief Executive Officer, Faisal Shuaib, warned Nigerians that different jabs could cause serious negative effects.
“You cannot take the AstraZeneca on your left and Johnson & Johnson on the right. Both have to be doses of AstraZeneca,” Shuaib said.
Recall that the NPHCDA, last Sunday, asked all the states to suspend vaccination when they reach half of the doses delivered to them.
This implies that a state that was given 100,000 doses would have to halt the vaccine rollout once the doses hit 50,000 in order for those who have received their first jab to be able to complete their vaccination.
