
The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 have said Nigeria will soon receive initial four million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines.
The Chairman of the PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, disclosed this at the national routine briefing in Abuja on Monday.
Mustapha noted The PTF has been assured that Nigeria shall receive the initial four million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines very soon and Nigerians will be adequately informed on developments.
According to him, the multisectoral machinery will be deployed to enhance the logistics to the ‘last-mile administration’ processes that have been put in place.
This will involve community mobilisation, training, transportation, storage, operations, among others. The real work involves every sub-national entities, the communities, the citizens and the civil societies.
He also stated that The issue of vaccines continues to dominate discussions and major policy and financial decisions by various countries of the world, adding that NAFDAC in the course of the past week granted emergency use authorisation for the use of AstraZeneca vaccines in Nigeria. The decision was reached after due process by the regulatory body.
Mustapha further stated that despite this milestone approval which will obviously be a game-changer, the PTF wishes to underscore the need to continue to take responsibility by observing all the non-pharmaceutical measures.
The PTF boss reiterated that vaccines remain critical in the battle but we must remain well informed because of the intense transmission which is putting enormous pressure on the hospitals, intensive care units and health workers in our different communities.