COVID-19: FG rolls out mass vaccination November 20

The Federal Government has concluded arrangements to roll out a mass COVID-19 vaccination plan with effect from Friday, November 20, 2021.

Secretary to the Goverment of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, who made this known on Monday during the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PTF) briefing in Abuja, assured Nigerians that the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) has enough vaccines in the pipeline to vaccinate about 50 per cent of the target population by the end of January 2022.

He added that efforts were also ongoing to bring on board the booster dose so as to build a healthy level of anti-bodies.

SGF who is the Chairman of PTF recalled that in the last briefing, it was announced that the Vaccine Mandate would commence from December 1, 2021.

“I will like to state that this is in the best interest of Nigeria looking at what is happening globally. We are gearing up to further engage with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to push through the mass vaccination programme and mandate for the citizens,” he said.

Mustapha, however, lamented that the Committee has received intelligence and even detected that some unscrupulous citizens are procuring vaccination cards through the black market.

He disclosed that the vaccination records/certificates would be verified and that this should serve as a warning to those criminally minded persons to desist because they would be prosecuted accordingly.

“In addition to the above, Travelers leaving the country are encouraged to be conversant with the Travel Protocols of all Countries (origin, transit and destination).

“This has become necessary because of comments and reports in the media that some citizens are denied boarding due to lack of pre-departure protocol compliance. Others returning home also complained about requirements to be met. The protocols are clear and simple and they should be observed accordingly,” he said.

SGF also revealed that the PSC is approaching the end of its nine months mandate by the end of December 2021, adding that to effectively capture the core elements of the national response, a National Summit to end COVID-19 in 2022 and to strengthen Global Health Security has been planned to hold in Abuja from  December  6 – 8, 2021

He said: “The PSC has not briefed the nation for some time now but we have been working and monitoring the trends around the world so that the National Response can continue to be based on Data, Research and experience.

“The situation is still challenging, hence, the need to continue to strictly adhere to the non-pharmaceutical intervention measures.

“We are currently seeing some surges in cases in some countries in Europe (especially eastern Europe) due to under vaccination. In other territories where massive vaccinations have occurred, the infections are rising.

“What we see in Nigeria right now is that there is an increase in case fatality ratio, which calls for great concern.

“The National International Travel Protocol portal has been upgraded to meet existing protocol and the demands of our travelling public. The portal is now live and running smoothly,” he said.

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COVID-19: FG rolls out mass vaccination November 20