FG Reiterates Equal Access To COVID-19 Vaccine

Federal Government of Nigeria has reiterated that eligible citizens will have equal access to the COVID-19 vaccine.

Gatekeepers News reports that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha has reiterated that eligible Nigerians will have unfettered access to COVID-19 vaccines.

Mustapha disclosed this during the North East town hall meeting on COVID-19 vaccination at Adamawa, on Tuesday.

According to him, “the PSC has been monitoring with keen interest the increasing trend of COVID-19 cases in several countries with special attention on those with high incidence, fatality rate and widespread prevalence of variants.”

He, therefore, urged Nigerians to avoid non-essential international travels at this time, especially to countries that are showing a rising number of cases and deaths from COVID-19.

On 1 May 2021, PSC identified Brazil, India, and Turkey as hotspot countries to COVID-19.

Although Mustapha sympathised with the affected nations, he noted that “Consequently, any person who has visited Brazil, India, and Turkey within 14 days preceding travel to Nigeria shall be denied entry into Nigeria, among other travel guidelines. Individuals, transporters, and airlines who flout the guidelines shall be sanctioned.”

He, therefore, advised State governments to ensure that “all returning international travellers adhere to the mandatory seven-day self-isolation period and the repeat of COVID-19 PCR test on the seventh day after arrival.”

The PSC Boss while stressing that the battle is not over yet said, “It is important to remind ourselves of the need to continue to wear our face masks and observe other preventive measures such as frequent hand washing under running water, keeping physical distance, and avoiding large and closed gatherings even after vaccination.”

He added that this was necessary “until at least 70% of eligible Nigerians are vaccinated and we achieve herd immunity against COVID-19.”

Mustapha noted that “when this happens, we can be relieved of the burden of face masks and the other non-pharmaceutical intervention measures.”

On the safety of the vaccine, the PSC Boss said, “I am deeply convinced that there are no other ways of demonstrating that the COVID-19 vaccine we are using in Nigeria is safe than publicly taking our jabs of the vaccine. If there is anything harmful in the vaccine, we are ever ready to lead by example in taking the harm before other citizens.”

Mustapha while commending all health workers, urged them to continue to promote vaccination among their peers, family friends, and community members.

He also applauded the Governors “for demonstration of a sterling leadership by example and for Your Excellencies oversight on COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria.”

According to him, “As the vaccination for the second dose has now begun, I believe Your Excellencies will intensify mobilization efforts and continue to facilitate the vaccination of eligible persons in your states to ensure all your allocated vaccines for the first dose are fully utilized and that all those who have taken the first dose return to the vaccination sites for their second dose as this is the only way to ensure they are fully protected.”