Nigeria has received its first COVID-18 vaccines and experts are ready to kick off an inoculation program. The supplies come under the international COVAX scheme.
COVAX is determined to make all countries that are eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccines. The body is also ensuring that all countries have access to a safe, effective vaccine. COVAX is led by the vaccine alliance Gavo, and the World Health Organization (WHO), with UNICEF as partners. COVAX expects to deliver almost 2 billion doses of the vaccine by the end of 2021.
3.92 million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine were delivered to Nigeria. Nigeria becomes the third African country to receive COVAX shots. The first country is Ghana, while the second is Ivory Coast. The two countries have started their vaccination campaigns.
The vaccines were welcomed into the country by dozens of Nigerian officials who wore yellow high-visibility jackets and face masks on the Abuja airport tarmac.
Chairman of Nigeria’s presidential task force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha said the new development has brought hope to humanity all over the world.
Nigeria aims to begin vaccinating frontline healthcare workers, and they are the highest-priority recipients in many states of the federation.
According to Mustapha, Nigeria is expecting 84 million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine from COVAX in 2024, and by estimates, that should be enough to vaccinate about 20 percent of the population.
Peter Hawkins, country rep. of UNICEF said that Nigeria is known for extensive experience in combating infectious diseases – especially the polio disease, and as such, will use the knowledge to roll out the COVID-19 doses.
In spite of the arrival of the vaccine in Nigeria. Many people are still skeptical about the effectiveness of the products, more will be done to encourage people to take the shots, with the hope that things will be better.
