By Tina George, Minna
The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) has assured Nigerians that the COVID-19 vaccines would be safe to use when it arrives in Nigeria.
The Agency said that the first batch of 100,000 doses from Pfizer is expected in the country by the end of January 2021 or early February.
The Director of Disease Control and Immunization at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Bassey Okposen gave this assurance while speaking to newsmen during a virtual sensitization meeting with media gatekeepers on COVID-19 vaccine introduction on Friday,
He said that despite undergoing the WHO pre-qualification, the vaccine would also undergo NAFDAC certification before it is administered to the public.
Bassey said that the testing would be done randomly, stressing that government is working hard to ensure that anything that would endanger the people would not be given to them.
“The vaccines are safe. There have been concerns from a lot of quarter regarding the safety of the vaccine but we are assuring everyone that the vaccines are safe and effective.
“The vaccines have already undergone the WHO pre-qualification and when it arrives, there would be NAFDAC certification before they are administered to the people.”
The Director explained that the Agency is embarking on a lot of risk communication and sensitization to ensure that the misinformation regarding the vaccines is debunked and reassure the people about the safety of the vaccines.
He said that the 100,000 doses of vaccines received would be administered to 50,000 people adding that each person would receive two doses.
Basset added that workers at the front line of combating COVID-19 would be given priority in receiving the vaccine.
“The front line health workers, the Police and Immigration would be given priority. Priority would also be given to the elderly and those with comorbidity situation. States with higher number of cases would also be given priority”, he said.
Basset called on the media to help the government in sensitizing the public and help in debunking every misinformation that would come in the stead of the COVID-19 vaccines.
He urged the media to always replace misinformation with true and factual information which would help the people in accepting the vaccine.
