JUST IN: FG flags-off nationwide vaccination at National Hospital, Abuja
- The distribution of vaccines across Nigeria has officially started
- The exercise is kicking-off in the nation's capital, Abuja under the watchful eyes of senior government officials
- As expected, healthcare workers are the first to get the COVID-19 jab in Nigeria
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The federal government has flagged-off the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination exercise at the National Hospital, Abuja.
The exercise will officially commence after the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, officially declares the event open.
Legit.ng gathered that the vaccines have already undergone final assessment by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
After confirmation and final checks, NAFDAC certified the vaccines safe with positive results, signalling that Nigeria can now go ahead and use the 3.924m doses of AstraZeneca vaccines already in the country.
Source: Twitter
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Speaking at the event, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Mohammed Musa Bello in extended his appreciation to all health workers who he noted have worked tirelessly to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Faisal Shuaib said:
“It’s a momentous occasion today as we administer the first dose to one of our foremost frontline medical doctors in the fight against COVID-19.”
The minister of health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire said:
“The long-awaited day is here which Nigeria can join other countries in commencing the COVID-19 vaccination program. Every life lost in this pandemic matters. Today marks a huge step in reversing this trend.”
Legit.ng had earlier listed 10 important facts concerning the COVID-19 vaccine here.
Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates, says Nigeria does not need to spend too much on acquiring COVID-19 vaccines but should rather focus more on revitalising its weak and underfunded health sector, especially the country's primary health care centres.
Gates said this while responding to a question posed by a journalist during an interview with selected African journalists on Tuesday, January 26.
Jerrywright Ukwu is an Abuja-based senior political/defence correspondent at Legit.ng. He is a graduate of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos and the International Institute of Journalism in Abuja. He is also a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. He spends his leisure-time reading history books. He can be reached via email at jerrywright39@yahoo.com.
Source: Legit.ng
