* launches single shot vaccine
By Dan-Maryam Zayamu
The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, has disclosed that for Nigeria to meet its target of vaccinating 70 per cent of its eligible population before the end of 2022, it needs to vaccinate 550, 000 people per day.
He disclosed this at the formal launch of the SCALE 2.0 Strategy, single shot of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine and the COVID-19 site finder, in Abuja, on Tuesday.
He explained that: “Today, we are also launching the single shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine for everyone.
“We understand that one of the reason why there is a gap between our first and second doses is because people experience COVID-19 adverse effect following COVID-19 vaccination.
“Although these adverse effects are largely mild, we know that the opportunity to have that single shot not only in the hardest to reach areas but everybody having access to one single shot will definitely increase our coverage for COVID-19 vaccination.
“We will also be launching the COVID-19 site finder. This will again improve the ability of Nigerians to have access to COVID-19 vaccine. Wherever you are in Nigeria, if you are able to sign in into this website, you will be shown the nearest COVID-19 vaccination centre so you can make your way to this very centre.”
On his part, the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, said that the SCALES is an acronym for Service delivery, Communication, Accountability, Logistics, Electronic reporting, and Supportive supervision for the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination.
While explaining the rationale behind the single dose J&J vaccine, the Minister said that: “Although the SCALES strategy has proven to be quite effective in ramping up COVID-19 vaccination coverage, the proportion of fully vaccinated Nigerians is still very low, partly because we have been using two-dose vaccines.
“Unfortunately, most people are reluctant to take their second dose for various reasons including fear of a repeat of the mild side effects they may have experienced with the first dose.”
With the launch of the SCALE 2.0 Strategy, the Minister said, “all childhood vaccination, including administration of vitamin A, will now be done alongside COVID-19 vaccination at COVID-19 vaccination sites.
“Eligible children will now be able to receive their BCG, Penta 3, OPV 3, OPV 1&2, Measles, Yellow Fever vaccines, as well as Vitamin A supplement, at the sites where the adults receive COVID-19 vaccines. This is the good news we are bringing to Nigerians today.”
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