BEVERLY HILLS, February 28, (THEWILL) – All things being equal, the Federal Government says, Nigeria will receive the first batch of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from India on Tuesday March 2.
The Chairman of PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, made the disclosure Sunday night in Abuja.
He said the supply of vaccines was through the delivery plan released by UNICEF in charge of the logistics for the supply of the vaccine meant for Nigeria through the COVAX facility bringing four million doses in the first batch of the shipment to the country.
According to him: “I can assure you that the vaccines are coming and coming very quickly barring any change in the delivery plan released to us by UNICEF. The logistics and other things are in the hands of UNICEF.
“First batch of COVAX shipment will be arriving 11.10am Monday 1st March 2021 are 124 pkgs comprising 2,508,000 syringes and 25,100 safety boxes
“Second batch will be arriving 11.10am Tuesday March 2, with about 3,924,000 doses COVAX in 211 packages/7,848 cartons.”
In addition, Mustapha said, the Federal Government has another source from the Harvard facility, which is the African Vaccine Action Team, a combination of Oxford AstraZeneca and Johnson and Johnson vaccines.
The SGF disclosed that no fewer than 41 million doses “are expected from the second source.”
He said that AstraZeneca “has a good range in terms of storage which does not come with any complications because it can be stored in +2 to +8 Degree Celsius and in cold chain facilities that are available in virtually all the local governments or constituencies and wards in this country.
“I believe we are well prepared to receive our vaccines. And I hope that they keep to this timeframe that they have given us and we are eagerly expecting vaccines.”
The SGF, however, cautioned that the vaccine was not an excuse to jettison the non-pharmaceutical interventions put in place by the PTF.
“I must caution Nigerians that it is going to be a combination of vaccines with the non-pharmaceutical measures and the non-pharmaceutical measures will remain in place, the wearing of masks the keeping of social distancing, the need for personal hygiene and taking responsibility to ensure that we do not congregate in large gatherings and avoid travels if it is not necessary,” he said.
About the Author
