NIGERIA. Abuja: The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib has disclosed that 1,081,548 have received their first dose of the AstraZeneca Vaccine in Nigeria.
According to him, this number represents 53.8% people of the eligible persons targeted to be administered with the Astrazeneca vaccine in this vaccination phase.
Speaking to newsmen on the update of the COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria, Shuaib said that the vaccination process across the country is happening according to plan.
He said that in many states; the Agency has completed inoculating frontline health workers and is now offering vaccination to the elderly, particularly those that are 65 years and above.
“We are glad to be able to progress quickly and offer immunization to more members of the community. Our rollout has been marked by safety, efficiency, best practice, and speed.
” I want to take this opportunity to thank all our health workers for their incredible and tireless commitment to making this work”, he said
Mild Adverse Effects of the vaccination
The Executive Director said that since the vaccination program was officially rolled out on the 15th of April 2021, a total of 8,439 mild Adverse events following immunization (AEFI) have been reported.
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He said that these adverse events range from pain, swelling at the site of the inoculation, body pains and nausea.
“Similarly, 52 cases of moderate to severe incidents of AEFI have been reported. These presented as fever, vomiting, diarrhoea headaches, dizziness and allergic reactions.
“Five states have the highest records of the AEFI namely: Kaduna (970) Cross River (859), Yobe (541), Kebbi (511), and Lagos (448).”
Shuaib said that no death has occurred from the administration of the vaccine.
“We have also not diagnosed any case of blood clots related to the administration of the vaccines.
“Nevertheless, we are working with NAFDAC, NCDC and other relevant agencies to set up a more active surveillance system built on our experience with polio surveillance.”
