A total of 5,770,899 Nigerians have been vaccinated with the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine while 3,146,885 have taken the second dose. 

This was disclosed by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) at the Ministerial Press Briefing update on COVID-19 Response and Development in the Health Sector on Monday in Abuja 

NPHCDA director on Planning Research and Statistics, Abdullahi Bulama Garba, said the figures were achieved as at November 7, 2021, across Nigeria’s 36 States and the FCT.

He noted that there were over eight million doses of vaccines in the country at the moment, adding that the country was still expecting more doses.

He said Nigeria had set an ambitious goal of vaccinating 40 per cent of its over 200 million population before the end of 2021, and 70 per cent by the end of 2022.

“To achieve this, the vaccine roll-out was scheduled to be in four phases, starting with health workers, frontline workers, COVID-19 rapid response team, amongst others.

“The second phase has commenced and it’s capturing older adults, aged 50 years and above, and those aged between 18 and 49 years of age,” Mr Garba said. 

Elsie Ilori, Director of Disease Surveillance Department at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), while giving an update on the Nigeria’s COVID-19 situation, said alongside existing safety measures, widespread vaccination was providing a means for the world to exit this pandemic.

“While some countries are achieving set goals for population vaccination (South Korea), including using vaccine mandates, others are easing back on restrictions (Melbourne) and some are contemplating preserving existing restrictions for only the unvaccinated (Austria).

“Many countries in the global north have introduced vaccine booster doses, and have approved the use of COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 5 to 11 years,” she added.

The director noted that as much as it seems like Nigerians have moved on from COVID-19, it remains in existence, and people are still being infected and dying.

(NAN)