The Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib, has said that the Federal Government was expecting 42 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to combat the disease in the country.
Shuaib made this known at the recent press conference of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja.
While noting that the 42 million vaccine doses would only cater for 20 percent of Nigeria’s population, the Executive Director added that 100,000 doses of the vaccines would arrive in Nigeria at the end of this month.
He said: “Through Covax facility, we expect to receive apprioximately 100,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine by the end of January. A letter announcing this allocation is being expected this week.
“Also through Covax facility, Nigeria is expected to secure free delivery of 42 million doses of vaccines, which will be a combination of all the available and approved vaccines currently in the market.
“In order to achieve eradication of COVID-19 in Nigeria, we need to cover 70 per cent of the total population with COVID-19 vaccines. Forty per cent will be vaccinated in 2021, while 30 per cent will be covered in 2022.
“The priority will be given to frontline health workers, first responders (security), strategic country leadership, those with co-morbidities.”
