Nigeria has been listed among twelve African countries to receive the first batch of COVID-19 vaccine in the next month.
The development was confirmed on Thursday, January 21 by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Kayode Fayemi, Naija News understands.
According to the Ekiti State governor, the first shipment of the vaccines for developing countries would arrive in Nigeria by the end of February. Naija News understands that Fayemi revealed this in a statement released after the end of a virtual meeting of the Nigeria Governors Forum held on Wednesday but made public on Thursday, 21st January, 2021.
InsightnaijaTV understands that 92 countries were said to have qualified to receive the vaccine as at the moment. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency has indicated that the vaccines will be administered in four phases, based on vaccine type and availability, initially for frontline health workers, then the aged (55yrs and above), persons with underlying medical conditions and other target groups.
The communique which was made available to newsmen today read in part: “The NGF Chairman, H.E. Dr. Kayode Fayemi, briefed State governors on a meeting with Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Chair of the Board of Gavi, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, on the rollout of the COVAX facility which is a global risk-sharing mechanism co-led by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and the World Health Organization to facilitate pooled procurement and the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines across developing countries.
“Nigeria is among 12 countries in Africa that have indicated the readiness of the 92 qualified countries for the facility and will by end of February 2021 receive its first shipment of vaccines.
“On the ill-fated pronouncement made by a member of the Forum regarding the Covid-19 vaccine in a national daily, the Forum totally and categorically dissociated itself from the statement, emphasizing that the Forum will continue to be informed and guided by science and will ensure that every decision it takes retains public and professional trust and is not compromised by conflicts of interest.”
