The Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 says efforts are ongoing to give Nigerians booster vaccine doses. 

The vaccination programme is to build a healthy level of antibodies.

Chairman of the committee, Boss Mustapha, said at a news conference in Abuja that an increase in fatality cases called for great concern.

A booster vaccine dose helps to improve the protection after a person has completed one or two doses of vaccine, depending on the product, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). 

It gives longer-term protection against getting seriously ill from COVID-19 and is designed to help people maintain a longer level of immunity and is currently being admitted in some countries.

According to the WHO, booster doses may only be needed if there is evidence of insufficient protection against the disease as immunity naturally starts to wane.

Mr Mustapha added that the vaccination phase was being accelerated, and National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) had concluded arrangements to roll out a mass vaccination plan from November 20.

He assured Nigerians that the NPHCDA had enough vaccines to vaccinate about 50 per cent of the targeted population till January 31, 2022, frowning at the procurement of vaccination cards illegally and warning that persons caught would be prosecuted.

“We have received intelligence reports and even detected that some unscrupulous citizens are procuring vaccination cards through the black market. Let me assure everyone that the vaccination records and certificates will be verified,” stated Mr Mustapha. “This should serve as a warning to those criminally-minded persons to desist because they will be prosecuted accordingly.”

He urged travellers leaving the country to be conversant with the travel protocols of all countries (origin, transit and destination).

He said the advice became necessary because some were denied boarding due to a lack of pre-departure protocol compliance, while others returning also complained about requirements to be met.

(NAN)