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As part of efforts to contain the third wave of COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Government, yesterday, said it has vaccinated a total number of 4,680,000 people across the country, as at September 24, 2021.
The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, disclosed this during the South South Zonal Town Hall Meeting on COVID-19 vaccination, in Benin, Edo State.
The meeting was organised by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 in collaboration with NPHCDA and hosted by Edo government.
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Shuaib noted that out of the 4,680,000 people; about 1,865,127 were fully vaccinated with the two doses. He stated that the figure was below the nation’s target, which could prevent the country from returning to normal living. “I would like to encourage us to use our good offices to encourage eligible members of our community to visit the nearest designated health facilities to receive the vaccine.
“All the vaccines are currently available in designated vaccination sites across the country and are safe and effective,” he said.
He expressed optimism that in the next few weeks, NPHCDA plans to gradually involve the private sector, as sites for COVID-19 vaccination would succeed.
Shuaib, however, disclosed that the Federal Government has set up a Joint Task Force on COVID-19 vaccine for monitoring and accountability, in collaboration with security agencies.
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Earlier, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said the meeting was organised to discuss COVID-19 vaccination, address mutual concerns and reach a consensus to ensure citizens are safe and protected against the deadly diseases.
Ekhanire said Nigeria had so far lost 2,000 of her citizens to COVID-19, adding that the virus has also crashed the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He explained that the Federal Government needs to vaccinate 70 per cent of the population to effectively curb spread of the virus.
Governor Godwin Obaseki, represented by his Chief of Staff, Osaigbovo Iyokha, said the state has so far vaccinated over 130,000 residents, adding that the state target was to vaccinate 60 per cent of the population.
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