#COVID19: Nigeria receives first batch of 3.92 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses today

COVID-19: NCDC registers 360 new cases in 18 states, FCT

Nigeria is set to receive its first 3.9 million shipments of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the COVAX facility as NCDC announces eight deaths with 360 new cases of the COVID-19 infection in 18 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Minister reveals how the vaccine will be rolled out

The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire said the vaccine will be deployed to vaccinate, first our critical frontline healthcare workers, who are providing essential care, especially for severe COVID-19 patients, next to those who are at the highest risk of severe disease from COVID-19 infection and down to 70 percent of Nigerians.

He disclosed the government would adopt the strategy deployed for the eradication of polio in the country in vaccinating eligible citizens against COVID-19.

Ehanire said, with the experience garnered by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency during vaccination and subsequently eradication of polio in the country, the agency would record another feat in its handling of COVID – 19.

Also the federal government yesterday launched the electronic registration platform to enable eligible Nigerians to get vaccinated against the coronavirus pandemic.

READ ALSO: Nigeria recorded 321 #COVID-19 deaths in February

Under the traditional vaccination, approach tagged: “TEACH”, an acronym for a 5-point strategy for vaccination developed by the vaccination implementing wing of the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigerians would have the opportunity of undertaking electronic self-registration for vaccination.

The minister explained that TEACH stands for T: Traditional Vaccination Campaign Approach; E: Electronic Self-Registration by Eligible Nigerians; A: Assisted Electronic Registration of Eligible Nigerians; C: Concomitant Vaccination alongside Electronic Registration and H: House-to-House Electronic Registration.

“The World Health Organisation has advised all countries to limit vaccination for now to persons above 18 years until research and studies are completed on any possible effect on growing children or 18 years and below, except they have severe underlying illnesses where the benefits justify the risk.”

The minister warned Nigerians against anxiety in vaccination, explaining that “before the 4 million doses of AstraZeneca we are going to receive are expended, we shall be receiving more vaccines; so, there should be no need for anxiety.”

NCDC registers 360 new cases in 18 states and the FCT

The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced another 360 new cases in 18 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to the report shared on NCDC’s Twitter page, the cases were reported in Lagos-120 Edo-38 Kaduna-25; FCT-23; Imo-23; Delta-19; Akwa Ibom-17; Plateau-17; Rivers-16; Nasarawa-15; Kwara-13; Oyo-9; Ogun-8; Bauchi-4; Osun-4; Kano-3; Kebbi-3; Niger-2; and Katsina-1

The total confirmed cases now 156,017, 133,904 discharged and 1,915 deaths