VIPs to receive AstraZeneca vaccine before other Nigerians — Buhari government
The Nigerian government has provided a long list of very important persons who will be the first Nigerians to receive the COVID-19 jabs.
President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will pick dates they will be vaccinated publicly, with the first batch of Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
About four million doses expected to arrive in Nigeria on Tuesday.
The Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Faisal Shuaib, disclosed this at the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefing on Monday in Abuja.
Shuaib said the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the PTF on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, would liaise with other stakeholders to fix the public vaccination date.
Mr. Shuaib said, “I once again assure Nigerians that all necessary safety and quality control measures have been put in place for the arrival, storage, and successful administration of the vaccine in the country.
“There is going to be a small ceremony, chaired by the chairman of the PTF on COVID-19, to receive the vaccine at the VIP Protocol section, General Aviation Terminal of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
“At the end of the ceremonies to mark the arrival of the vaccines, a few vials of the vaccines would be handed to the NAFDAC team for analysis for two days (Wednesday and Thursday).”
Continuing, he stated, “Further to the clearance by NAFDAC, the PTF, FMOH, NPHCDA, and strategic leaders will be at the treatment centre of the National Hospital on Friday, where the first vaccination site will be set up to commence the vaccination of the frontline health workers and support staff.
“On Saturday, key strategic leaders will receive the first dose of the vaccine.
On Monday, more vaccination sites would have been set up at designated locations such as the National Assembly clinic, State House clinic and Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, where strategic leaders such as the SGF, senate president, speaker of the House of Representatives, the attorney general of the federation, inspector-general of police, ministers, senators, House of Representatives (lawmakers), traditional leaders, and religious leaders would be vaccinated.”
