Omicron: Agency to begin booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine Dec. 10

The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency(NPHCDA), has said it would begin the vaccination of booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine tomorrow, Friday 10th December 2021.

The Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib disclosed this at the Flag-off of COVID-19 Mass Vaccination of Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Camp at Waru, in Abuja on Thursday to counter the spread of the new variant Omicron in Nigeria.

Recall that the Omicron variant was first discovered in Nigeria on the first of December while the country currently have six confirmed cases of the varient.

According to Shuaib, the Federal Government had reviewed the country’s vaccination programme and resolved to introduce the booster dose using the Pfizer Bio-N-Tech vaccine across the country following the detection of Omicron Variant in the Nigeria.

Shuaib affirmed that further that the Nigerian COVID-19 vaccination programme is science and the administering of booster doses would take effect as from tomorrow, Friday, adding that evidence has shown that the booster dose further increases protection against the virus.

“Eligibility for the booster dose includes being 18 years and above, fully vaccinated with either two doses of AstraZeneca, Moderna or Pfizer Bio-N-Tech or a single dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.”

“The time interval before the booster dose is at least six months for these vaccines, except the Johnson and Johnson which is at least two months.”

“This is another opportunity to be further protected. I therefore urge all those who have taken the right decision to be fully vaccinated, to walk into the nearest vaccination site for their booster dose as from tomorrow.”

“I want to reassure everyone that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and efficacious. We have in place the required measures and precautions to ensure vaccine monitoring and accountability.”

Reiteraiting NPHCDA’s commitment towards ensuring Nigerians are safe from Omicron virus, said, “We are committed to ensure that our vaccination teams will be available on site here and in other camps daily until every eligible person has received their vaccines.

“As at Thursday December 9th 2021, 7,361,810 Nigerians have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and this represents 6.6% of the eligible population. 3,846,762 eligible Nigerians have received their second doses and are fully vaccinated against the virus representing 3.4% of the eligible population.

“As you are aware, since the detection of the first case of COVID-19 infection in Nigeria about two years ago, the Federal Government has taken decisive steps to control the spread of the virus in the country.”

Shuaib noted that despite the challenges of large-scale misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines, Nigeria has successfully vaccinated over seven million eligible persons.

” I am glad to inform that none of these persons has died as a result of receiving COVID-19 vaccine.

“Our record of successful vaccine roll out has been based on the consistent support from President Muhammadu Buhari and the guidance of the Chairman of Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 – Mr Boss Mustapha, and the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire.

“While we remain grateful to God Almighty for using these leaders to intervene for our dear country, it is important to mention that the decision of over 7 million Nigerians to take the COVID-19 vaccine has been based on their rightful conviction that the vaccines are safe and effective in protecting them against the disease.

“We appreciate the courage, resilience and patriotism that Nigerians have continued to demonstrate in accepting to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

“As time has come to prove that we were not wrong to have accepted the polio vaccine, time will come to prove that we are not wrong to accept the COVID-19 vaccine.

“The Federal Government under the able leadership of our dear President Muhammadu Buhari is determined to ensure that every eligible Nigeria and indeed any persons in Nigeria has access to the COVID-19 vaccines.

“It is in furtherance of this determination that we introduced the COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Campaign to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 Vaccines by everyone.

“Our presence here today, to flag-off the vaccination of our brothers and sisters in these camps across the country is also in fulfilment of that determination. Everyone, no matter where they are in the country MUST have access to the COVID-19 vaccines.

“As a result of our commitment to all Nigerians, COVID-19 vaccines are now accessible in all public, primary, secondary, and tertiary health facilities, private health facilities, worship centres, schools, markets, motor parks, shopping malls, etc, in order to fast track social and economic recovery from COVID-19.  Suffice to say, we have sufficient doses of COVID-19 vaccines for this mass vaccination campaign.”

NPHCDA’s Federal Commisioner, Imam Ibrahim on his part said the booster dose vaccination will undoubtedly enable society to revert to normalcy as restrictions continue to ease.

He encourage nigerians who are 18 years and above to take full advantage of this initiative and get vaccinated, noting that by getting vaccinated, there is break in chain of disease transmission, reduce mutations and Variants of the virus, and also protect others.

” Even if you become ill, the severity of sickness is usually mild and does not require hospitalization. I have been fully vaccinated; I encourage you all to do same.

“I use this opportunity to appreciate and show gratitude to The President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari for his unflinching support for strengthening our Humanitarian policies and interventionist response programmes and projects, in the particular interest of all persons of concern and the Nation at large.”