The Federal Government has explained modalities that would qualify states to receive doses of COVID-19 vaccines billed to be delivered into the country by the end of January.

Chief among the conditions is the availability of proper storage facility for the vaccines.

The director of logistics in NPHCDA, the country’s primary healthcare agency, Kubura Daradara, on Friday on a webinar hosted by the agency, stated that the vaccines have to be administered within five days, to retain its potency and that only states that were ready would receive doses.

Ms. Daradara said, “We are not releasing the vaccines to any state until we are sure that they are ready to implement (administer the vaccines).” 

100,000 doses of the vaccine are being expected in the first batch to be used on 50,000 people. The guidelines of the WHO prioritizes frontline health workers, essential workers,  persons above the age of 50and individuals with underlying health conditions.

The vaccines are to be administered in two doses with a 21 days interval and stored at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius. The agency plans to take the vaccines as soon as they arrive to the National Strategic Cold Store in Abuja, where Ultra Cold Chain freezers will preserve them.

The director of disease control in NPHCDA, Dr. Bassey Okposen showed the number of health workers in each state to be prioritised for vaccination once the vaccines arrive. 

Mr. Okposen noted that states with higher number of cases would also be given additional doses to address their cases.

The conditions by NPHCDA means that majority of the states might not be able to receive the vaccines, due to poor storage facilities and inadequate power supply among others.

Last year, lawmakers had questioned the preparedness of the Federal Ministry of Health to procure and preserve the vaccines.

The Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege shared his doubts over the ministry’s ability to preserve the vaccines.

His worry was based on the government’s preparation of only four cold chains for the vaccines. These cold chains are located in Abuja,  Kano,  Enugu and Lagos. 

Mr. Omo-Agege raised concerns as to why the  South- South had not been included in the plans, as well as concern for the vaccines preservation as it is transported to the region.