COVID-19: FG Announces Special Vaccination Sites For 2nd Dose

COVID-19: FG Announces Special Vaccination Sites For 2nd Dose

- Nigerians who have taken the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine have been encouraged to go for their second jabs

- The advice was given to citizens by the executive director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency Shuaib Faisal

- Dr. Faisal also said that special vaccination centres have been set up in states across Nigeria for those who have travelled out of where they had their first shots

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FCT, Abuja - The federal government on Tuesday, June 1, announced that some special coronavirus vaccination sites have been set up across the country to ensure that every Nigerian who had received the first jab completes the process.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja which was attended by Legit.ng, the executive director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Shuaib Faisal, said the sites would accommodate those who cannot access to states or facilities where they received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

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Faisal said:

"We acknowledge the possibility of some people relocating from the states where they took their first doses.
"For this reason, we have made provision for special vaccination sites that could accommodate administering their second doses." 

Noting that some of these previous sites may also not be available due to some circumstances, Faisal advised Nigerians to visit the NPHCDA website (www.nphcda.gov.ng) to locate vaccination posts close to them for their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The NPHCDA boss also said that so far, 1,956,598 of the targeted eligible Nigerians have been vaccinated with their first dose of the Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccine.

He said out of the above-stated number, 66 percent are frontline workers, 22 percent are healthcare workers, while 12 percent belong to the elderly group. 

Faisal also said that 73,465 Nigerians including the president and the vice president have also received their second dose of the vaccine across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

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Addressing fears allayed due to the side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine, Faisal said there have been cases of mild, moderate and Severe Adverse Events since the vaccination campaign was officially rolled out.

These side effects include pain and swelling at the site of vaccination to more serious symptoms such as headaches, abdominal pain, fever, dizziness, and allergic reactions. 

His words: 

"A total of 10,027 cases of mild AEFI have been reported as of May 30, while 86 cases of moderate to severe incidents have been reported. All these individuals have since fully recovered."

According to him, five states have the highest records of AEFI namely: Cross River (1,040), Kaduna (1,071), Lagos (796), Yobe (555), and Kebbi with 525 cases.

He added: 

"Indeed, on my part, the side effects following the second dose was much less than the first dose."

Also speaking, a UNICEF representative, Gupta Gagan commended the NPHCDA and its leadership for the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination drive.

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Gupta said the challenge faced in the administration of the vaccine would be reaching out to citizens to go and receive their second doses.

He said:

"All those who have received the first dose should please go back for their second dose because if you don't you should know that you are not fully protected."

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Nigeria's president, Muhammadu Buhari and the vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, have received the second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The president and his vice both received the second jabs at the Presidential Villa in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

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The NPHCDA had advised every Nigerian who had taken the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to ensure they do not drop out of the process.

Also, a representative of UNICEF, Peter Hawkins, said it should be noted that nobody is safe from the COVID-19 virus until everyone has received the vaccine.

Source: Legit.ng

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