The Federal Government is expected to extend the first doze of the COVID-19 vaccination which is currently ongoing by two weeks to give more Nigerians the opportunity to get vaccinated as about 1.2 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines have been administered on Nigerians.
According to the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, the government is impressed by the response of Nigerians to the vaccination.
He said: “By the vaccination timeline, the exercise ought to end today (Tuesday) but due to increasing demands by Nigerians, the government may extend the deadline.
“I think, a two-week extension is likely to create more access for vaccination.”
He added: “So far, 1.2m out of the 2million vaccines have been administered on Nigerians.
“We will continue to provide the right environment for easier vaccination.“
Concerning when the administration of the second dose of the vaccines will begin, Shuaib said:” It is normally about eight to 12 weeks after the first dose.”
According to Shuaib, the NPHCDA partnering with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to monitor the deployment of the vacciners.
Shuaib, in a statement, said the partnership will check any form of corruption during the vaccination process.
He said the ICPC team would focus on four areas, which are: uncovering theft and embezzlement; service provision; vaccine availability; and advisory.
He said anyone found culpable of extortion, diversion of vaccines and/or funds meant for the vaccination will face the full wrath of the law.
Shuaib said: “In line with its determination to ensure accountability and transparency in the deployment and administration of COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has partnered with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
“This collaborative effort is founded on ICPC’s three fold mandate ‘of enforcement, prevention, and public education and enlightenment to prohibit corrupt practices and other related offences.
“The collaboration will ensure all appropriate anti-corruption, accountability, and transparency measures are established and sustained throughout the four phases of the COVID-19 vaccination campaigns.
“These measures are imperative, as any form of corruption in the COVID-19 vaccination effort of the Federal Government will inevitably undermine the response to the pandemic, deprive citizens of their right to vaccination, and ultimately derail the goal of achieving herd immunity.
“The ICPC will track and monitor the deployment and use of COVID-19 vaccines across the country, with a focus on four critical areas – theft and embezzlement; service provision; vaccine availability; and advisory.
“The NPHCDA, therefore, assures the public that those with intentions of perpetrating any unlawful acts in this regard, such as extortion, diversion of vaccines and/or funds meant for the vaccination exercise, will be apprehended and would face the full wrath of the law.
“The general public is therefore encouraged to report any act of corruption in the vaccination process to NPHCDA or ICPC.
“COVID-19 Vaccine protects you, your family, and your community!”
