The National Primary Health Care Agency (NPHCDA) says 513,626 persons have received the first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria.

The NPHCDA disclosed this in its official Twitter handle on Sunday.

Nigeria commenced vaccination on March 5, first, with healthcare workers who are mostly at risk of infections being the first responders.

NPHCDA said the vaccine rollout would be in four phases, starting with health workers, frontline workers, COVID-19 rapid response team, laboratory network, policemen, petrol station workers, and strategic leaders.

It added, “Phase 2 – older adults aged 50 years and above, those with co-morbidities, aged between 18 years and 49 years.

“Phase 3 – Those in states/LGAs with high disease burden and who missed phases 1 and 2. Phase 4 – other eligible populations as vaccines become available.”

As of March 28, over 513,626 eligible people received the jab in 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The agency added that no vaccination had taken place in Kogi as of March 28.

“Kogi state was not supplied with the vaccines because their cold store is still under repairs following vandalisation during the #EndSARS protest,” it stated.

The NPHCDA stated Lagos vaccinated 110,042 people, making it the highest in the country. Ogun followed with 47,507; Kaduna, 38,063; Bauchi, 32,482; Katsina, 28,918; and Kwara, 26,473.

NPHCDA also stated that the states with the lowest number of those vaccinated were Abia, 22; Taraba,111; and Kebbi, 532.

Nigeria first received 3.94 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines and another 300,000 doses from telecom giant MTN.

The federal government hopes to vaccinate 109 million people against the COVID-19 virus over two years.

(NAN)