FG begins giving booster shots, US donates 2.5 million doses
The Federal Government will today (Friday) begin the administration of booster doses of Covid-19 vaccines.
The Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Faisal Shuaib, stated this on Thursday in Abuja as the Africa Centre for Disease Control, an agency of the African Union, kicked against the introduction of booster doses in African countries.
Nigeria had on March 5, 2021 commenced Covid-19 vaccination with a total of 3.94 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the COVAX institute in India.
This was followed by a vaccination break due to the ban of vaccine transportation by the Serum Institute in India, the main supplier of the COVAX facility.
In Abuja, on Thursday, Shuaib stated, “The Federal Government reviewed the country’s vaccination programme and resolved to introduce the booster dose using the Pfizer Bio N-Tech vaccine across the country. This will take effect from tomorrow, Friday the 10th of December 2021.
“It is pertinent to reiterate the Nigerian Covid-19 vaccination programme is science driven. Evidence has shown that the booster dose further increases protection against the virus.
“Eligibility of the booster dose includes being 18 years and above, being vaccinated with either two doses of AstraZeneca, Moderna, or Pfizer N-Tech, or a single dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. The time interval before the booster dose is at least six months for these vaccines except the Johnson nd Johnson which is at least two months.
“This is another opportunity to be further protected. I therefore urge all those who have taken the right decision too be fully vaccinated, to walk into the nearest vaccination site for there booster dose from tomorrow (Friday)”.
A Coronavirus booster vaccine dose helps improve the protection after receiving the first two doses.
