The Chairman Senate Committee on Health Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe says the sum of 10 billion naira was allocated by the National Assembly on the 2020 budget for the production of vaccines in Nigeria.
Senator Oloriegbe who stated this on Monday at the flag off of the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination program in Abuja said the National Assembly and the Executives are working to make this a reality.
He said they are working with the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigerians at the international community and international partners to ensure that Nigeria has the mechanism to produce vaccines.
Speaking on the ongoing strike by the Association of Resident Doctors, Senator Oloriegbe appealed to them to avail themselves all the opportunity of negotiations that they have had and all the opportunity that government has given.
He noted that the money the striking doctors are requesting has been provided and is been processed appealing to them to go back to work.
He assured Nigerians that the National Assembly is working with the Executives to resolve the human resources challenges in the health sector in Nigeria noting that it is a huge challenge in the country.
He however called on Nigerians to ensure that they take the COVID-19 vaccines as he says it is safe and certified by NAFDAC and for us to stop the spread of this disease.
Meanwhile the Director General of NAFDAC Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye assured that the health of Nigerian is premium in whatever they do hence the need for them to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
She said all COVID-19 vaccines has been checked and certified good for usage by NAFDAC allaying the fears of Nigerians.
She however said it is normal to have a little bit of side effect of the vaccine but called on Nigerians to download the Med safety app to record the effect they have experienced as a result of the vaccine.
She said this is important for the agency to be able to fast track the effect of the COVID-19 vaccine being reported across the world so that they can safe guard the health of Nigerians.
The Director General of the National Center for Disease Control NCDC Dr. Chikwe Iheakwazu while commending health care workers for their service said the distribution and the making of this vaccines available depends on them.
He asked Nigerians to support them in the delivery of the vaccine. He appealed that they encourage and support healthcare workers in their Job delivery for effective distribution of the vaccines.
Health TV recalls that the United State Government donated 4,000,080 doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, which was received in the country on August 1st, 2021.
Nigeria also recieved 177,600 doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine which is the first tranche of the almost 40 million doses the Federal Government has procured from the Africa-Export-Import (AFREXIM) Bank through the African Union.
The balance of the vaccine is being expected to be delivered over the coming months.
698,880 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, a donation from the UK Government through the COVAX facility will be received on Tuesday and will be targeted at those that are due for their 2nd dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
In the next couple of weeks, Nigeria will be expecting up to 3.9million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines to complement what we already have and to ensure that we cover not only those who will be taking their 2nd AstraZeneca vaccine but also for those who will want to take their first dose of this vaccine.
[…] Adigwe who also spoke on the 10 billion naira allocation by the National Assembly in the 2020 budget for the production of vaccines locally, said […]