The Federal Government has said that Nigeria will not accept COVID-19 vaccines with short-shelf life.
This decision was made after the expiration of one million doses of the COVID-19 vaccines.
The Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 led by Boss Mustapha announced this.
Dr Faisal Shuaib, the Executive Director/CEO of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency confirmed this. Shuaib made this known at an emergency media briefing by PSC on COVID-19 on Monday in Abuja.
It was reported that at least 10 million vaccines with short-shelf life have been administered in Nigeria.
However, the Minister of Health Dr Osagie Ehanire announced the expiration of vaccines supplied to the country.
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Shuaib revealed that over a million of the expired vaccines had been withdrawn. He said the National Agency for Food Drug and Administration Control and environmental protocol will destroy them publicly. The date of destruction is yet to be announced.
Shuaib said the public destruction of drugs would eliminate doubts and assure Nigerians of their safety.
His words:
“As of today, the 13th of December 2021, 7,894,068 eligible persons have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria. This represents 7.1% of the eligible population required to be vaccinated.
“The total of fully vaccinated eligible people in Nigeria is 3,969,325 representing 3.6% of the eligible population. 496 persons have received their booster doses,”
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He explained that, “In recent times, we are beginning to see an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases globally due to a new variant called OMICRON.
“Mutation of COVID-19 occurs when the population remains unvaccinated. An unvaccinated community allows the virus an opportunity to thrive, grow and build up more attack mechanisms against our immune system.”
He said that there is an increased number of COVID-19. Shuaibu said that this is due to the fact that most eligible populace in Nigeria have not been vaccinated.
Shuaibu continued, “With increasing travels and interaction these ember months, the virus is still thriving and spreading within the communities because our eligible populations have remained unvaccinated.”
He explained that the COVID-19 cannot thrive in unvaccinated individuals.
“Our unvaccinated eligible population are therefore providing an environment for the virus to thrive and mutate.
“We have worked assiduously to ensure that a vaccination centre is located near your home, your workplace, your school, your religious centre and at the market/shopping mall.
“This is to ensure our eligible populations have easy access to the vaccines. The jabs are available, Nigerians need to avail themselves to protect not just themselves but their loved ones and their communities,” he explained.
The NPHDA boss further explained that booster doses help sustain immunity against the virus. He added that they are usually administered to people who have been fully vaccinated.
He revealed that on December 10, 2021, Pfizer BioNTech vaccine was introduced as booster doses.
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He disclosed that on December 10, 2021, the agency introduced the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine for administration as booster doses.
“The booster dose can be taken in any vaccination site free of charge. No new registration is required to get a booster dose. All eligible persons should kindly visit their vaccination site with their vaccination cards to receive their shot.
“Individuals who receive the booster dose will have a greater immune response to COVID-19 infection and enjoy greater protection against COVID-19,” he urged.
Source: PUNCH HealthWise
