The National Primary Health Care Development Agency says  three million eligible Nigerians have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This was revealed on Monday at the weekly briefing of the presidential Steering Committee in Abuja, by the Executive Director, NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib.

Indications are that significant progress has been recorded in the eight months since the country commenced the COVID-19 vaccination of its citizens.

NPHCDA states three million Nigerians were vaccinated.

The Executive Director NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib said 5,891,305 eligible Nigerians had received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, which represented 5.3 per cent of the eligible population. He further said that 3,252,067 Nigerians had received their second dose and were fully vaccinated, representing only 2.9 per cent of the overall population of eligible persons. He explained that the overall population of eligible Nigerians targeted for COVID-19 vaccination to enable the country reach herd immunity against the virus was 111,776,503.

He noted that most states had reached the percentage and priority was now being focused on administering AstraZeneca vaccine as first dose vaccine in all states of the federation. Dr. Faisal Shuaib said the Federal Government had received commitment of over 11.99 million and 12.2 million doses of Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines respectively.

“We also have received commitment of 4,953,600 doses of Moderna as donation from US Government through COVAX. These are few of the doses coming in batches in December and January 2022.

We would also like to remind us that the Federal Government procured 39,800,000 doses of J&J COVID-19 vaccine through the AVATT and these have been coming in batches,” he said.

Dr Faisal Shuaib appealed to persons 18 years and above and unvaccinated to simply walk into the vaccination site to take their COVID-19 vaccine. “It is free, safe, effective and protects you, your family and your community. And if you have taken your first dose, check your vaccination card for your due date and ensure you take the second dose for full protection,” he stressed. He further stated that the agency would initiate the COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Campaign to reach more Nigerians.

This he said, would move the country towards achieving herd immunity and creating an enabling environment for economic recovery and a return to social normalcy in the country. “The mass vaccination campaigns will require mass mobilization of Nigerians for increased vaccine uptake.

“This cannot be done successfully without the support of all critical stakeholders including governors, commissioners, the LGA Chairmen, Traditional and Religious Leaders, the Civil Society Organizations, the State Ministries of Health, the State Primary Healthcare Boards, all health professionals and our professional media community,” he concluded.