No Delivery Date For Next Batch Of COVID-19 Vaccine- NPHCDA

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has announced that the date for the delivery of expected batches of Covid-19 vaccines is uncertain due to disruptions in the global supply chain.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, the Executive Director NPHCDA Faisal Shuaib said that the government is not certain on when Nigeria will receive the next shipment.

Recall, Shuaib had hinted that Nigeria would receive some batches of vaccines through the COVAX facility by the end of May or early June 2021, along side 29.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine through the African Union (AU).

However, Shuaib on Tuesday said, “As most people here know by now, the global community is facing great challenges regarding vaccine supply. Like most nations, this impacts the clarity over Nigeria’s next shipment.

“While we have information that we may get the next consignment of vaccines by end of July or August, these have not been officially confirmed. When we are able to, we will provide an update regarding timelines and details of the next shipment. At present, we do not have that information available due to the wider context we are in.”

According to him, the agency has almost completed administering all first doses of the vaccines and have begun administering the second doses.

He said a total of 4,683 eligible Nigerians have received their second dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines.

“Those individuals currently eligible for second doses will have received their first dose 6 to 12 weeks ago.

“Federal Government is taking significant precautions to protect Nigerians against B.1.617.2, known as the Indian variant.”

He further announced that a total of 1,929,237 Nigerians, representing 96 per cent of the targeted population have received at least one dose of the vaccine.