Nigeria has received the first batch of about four million doses of Covid-19 vaccines shipped via the COVAX Facility, a partnership between CEPI, Gavi, UNICEF and WHO.
The information about the arrival of the vaccines was made public on the Official Twitter account of the Federal Ministry of Health. HMH: @DrEOEhanire HMSH: @DrAOMamora PSH: @MrAMAbdullahi
“#Nigeria just received the first batch of #COVID19Vaccines from #COVAX facility. #YesToCOVID19Vaccine”
9News Nigeria learnt that the Vaccines manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, arrived from Mumbai to Abuja around 11.30 am
“Nigeria has just received the first batch of Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID—19 vaccine,” presidential aide Bashir Ahmad tweeted.
The Ministry of Health earlier tweeted around 10: 00 Am Nigerian time that they were waiting for the arrival of the Covid-19 vaccines.
“We are currently awaiting the arrival of #COVID19 vaccine. #YesToCOVID19Vaccine“
Nigeria is now one of the countries in the world who have received COVID-19 vaccines, while vaccination has already commenced in many other countries including Ghana.
According to a statement from the United Nations in Nigeria, the arrival marked a historic step towards the goal to ensure equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines globally.
UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, said, “The UN Country Team in Nigeria reiterates its commitment to support the vaccination campaign in Nigeria and help contain the spread of the virus.
“The arrival of these vaccines in Abuja today marks a milestone for the COVAX Facility in its
an unprecedented effort to deliver at least 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines globally by the end of 2021.”
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency had said it would commence the vaccination of Nigerians in priority groups, starting with frontline healthcare workers.
“This is a landmark moment for the country and the COVAX Facility’s mission to help end the acute phase of the pandemic by enabling equitable access to these vaccines across the world. We are glad to see Nigeria is amongst the first receiving the doses from COVAX, thanks to the excellent level of preparedness put in place by the Government of Nigeria,” Managing Director for Country Programmes at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Thabani Maphosa, added.
“Gavi looks forward to these vaccines being made available to the people most at risk, as soon as possible, and to ensuring that routine immunization services for other life-threatening infections are also delivered to avoid other disease outbreaks.”
Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, WHO Representative in Nigeria, said, “It is heart-warming to witness this epoch-making event and WHO wishes to congratulate the government of Nigeria for its participation in the global vaccine collaboration (COVAX) efforts and its commitment to protecting Nigerians against this pandemic.
“Vaccines are a critical new tool in the battle against COVID-19; therefore, this is a step in the
right direction. These vaccines have undergone rigorous regulatory processes at global and country-level and have been deemed safe and effective.”
