On Thursday 9/12/2021, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) disclosed that the administration for booster dose of COVID-19 vaccination will commence on Friday 10/12/2021, to help reduce the spread of the new variant in Nigeria. The Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Faisal Shuaib, stated this on Thursday in Abuja.

FG set to administer booster shot on Friday.

Faisal Shuaib, stated that, “Following the detection of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in Nigeria, the Federal Government reviewed the country’s vaccination program and resolved to introduce the booster dose using the Pfizer Bio-N-Tech vaccine across the country as this will take effect as from tomorrow, Friday, 10th December 2021.

It is pertinent to reiterate the fact that the Nigerian COVID-19 vaccination program is science-driven. Evidence has shown that the booster dose further increases protection against the virus.

Eligibility for the booster dose includes being 18 years and above, fully vaccinated with either two doses of AstraZeneca, Moderna or Pfizer Bio-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 and 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 to be fully vaccinated, to walk into the nearest vaccination site for their booster dose as from tomorrow (Friday).” He spoke.

“I want to reassure everyone that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and efficacious. We have in place the required measures and precautions to ensure vaccine monitoring and accountability.

We are committed to ensure that our vaccination teams will be available on site here and in other camps daily until every eligible person has received their vaccines.

Shuiab further disclosed that as at Thursday December 9th 2021, 7,361,810 Nigerians have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and this represents 6.6% of the eligible population. 3,846,762 eligible Nigerians have received their second doses and are fully vaccinated against the virus representing 3.4% of the eligible population.

As you are aware, since the detection of the first case of COVID-19 infection in Nigeria about two years ago, the Federal Government has taken decisive steps to control the spread of the virus in the country.

Despite the challenges of large-scale misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines, Nigeria has successfully vaccinated over seven million eligible persons, and I am glad to inform that none of these persons has died as a result of receiving COVID-19 vaccine.”