Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, has stated that no fewer than 3 million vulnerable Nigerians need to be vaccinated with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19.
The vulnerable groups include the elderly, Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWDs), Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and the vulnerable poor.
Farouq reiterated that her ministry will be working with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to reach these demographics within the shortest period of time.
‘The Ministry is now working to support vulnerable persons under our purview that requires vaccination in line with the NPHCDA’s plan to reach this group in the second phase,’ the minister stated.
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‘Data mined from the National Social Register and various agencies and parastatals under the ministry has now shown that over 3 million persons need this vaccination.’
The minister went further to assure Nigerians that a proper sensitization exercise would be conducted before the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine.
‘We will ensure that they are properly sensitized of the risk and side effects and receive psychosocial support from our social workers on issues and co-morbidities will be considered before they are administered these vaccines.’
Nigeria received 3.94 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in early March. The country has since commenced vaccination, beginning with frontline healthcare workers who are often at the risk of exposure to infections being the first responders to patients.
It also received 300,000 doses of the vaccine from telecom giant MTN on Sunday.
The government aims to vaccinate approximately 109 million people against the COVID-19 virus over a period of two years.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
