BREAKING: COVID-19 Vaccines Arrive Nigeria

The much awaited first batch of vaccines for coronavirus has arrived in Nigeria.

The consignment arrived via an Emirates Airline flight which landed in Abuja at noon on Tuesday.

Officials of the Federal Ministry of Health were on hand at the airport to receive the consignments.

Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed said the government would embark on aggressive campaigns to ensure adequate administration of the vaccines.

Senate President Ahmed Lawan who was represented at the airport thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for working hard to ensure the availability of the vaccines.

Also represented at the airport was the Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila.

Edward Kallon, the UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, reiterated the commitment of the UN to support the vaccination campaign in the country and help contain the spread of the virus.

“The arrival of these vaccines in Abuja today marks a milestone for the COVAX Facility in its unprecedented effort to deliver at least 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines globally by the end of 2021.

“The arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine will enable the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to commence the vaccination of Nigerians in priority groups, starting with frontline healthcare workers,” he said.

Thabani Maphosa, Managing Director for Country Programmes at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, said it was a landmark moment for Nigeria and the COVAX Facility’s mission to help end the acute phase of the pandemic by enabling equitable access to the vaccines across the world.

“We are glad to see Nigeria is among the first receiving the doses from COVAX, thanks to the excellent level of preparedness put in place by the Government of Nigeria.

“Gavi looks forward to these vaccines being made available to the people most at risk, as soon as possible, and to ensuring that routine immunisation services for other life-threatening infections are also delivered to avoid other disease outbreaks,” he said.

Also, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, WHO Representative in Nigeria, said it was heart-warming “to witness this epoch-making event.”

“WHO wishes to congratulate the government of Nigeria for its participation in the global vaccine collaboration (COVAX) efforts and its commitment to protecting Nigerians against this pandemic.

“These vaccines have undergone rigorous regulatory processes at global and country-level and have been deemed safe and effective,” Mulombo said.

According to him, vaccines are a critical new tool in the battle against COVID-19 and therefore, Nigeria’s participation is a step in the right direction.

Similarly, Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Country Representative, emphasised the importance of vaccines, adding that the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines into Nigeria was critical in curbing the pandemic.

“After a year of disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, today we celebrate the efforts being made in getting the vaccine to Nigeria.