EXCITING NEWS: TNG WhatsApp Channel is LIVE…
Subscribe for FREE to get LIVE NEWS UPDATE. Click here to subscribe!
Emman Ovuakporie
The Federal Government on Thursday received 173,600 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine procured through the African Union, AfreximBank and partners.
Nigeria is the seventh recipient of the vaccine which according to the representative of WHO, UNICEF and Africa CDC is expected to rise to 50 million before December of this year.
The vaccine arrived the country on Wednesday and was received by the National Primary Health Care and Development Agency (NPHCDA) as part of efforts to contain the spread of covid19 pandemic which is in its 3rd phase globally.
In a chat with the media and other cooperating partners on a tour to its storage facility in Abuja, Dr Faisal Shuaib, the Executive Director of the agency explained that the 173,600 doses is the first batch out of the 28,850 expected to arrive Nigeria and the agency has the capacity to warehouse the vaccine.
The cooperating partners also applauded the initiative calling it a milestone that will see over 60% of the population vaccinated before December of 2021.
They explained that the vaccine will be delivered to all member countries in Africa to save lives and close the gap between Africa and other continents.
The Executive Director urged the media to sensitize Nigerians on the safety and importance of taking the vaccine against fears raised in some quarters which discouraged many to turn up for their jabs.
Nigeria is the fourth among the top ten countries to manage the covid19 pandemic successfully and the seventh recipient of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine behind Togo in Africa.