The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA), has flagged off the administration of COVID-19 booster shots in Nigeria.
According to the NPHDA, the COVID-19 booster shot is for people who had received the first and second jab of the vaccine.
According to Faisal Shuaib, the Executive Director, NPHDA, the administration of the booster shots will commence on Friday, December 10, 2021.
Shuaib while speaking at the flag-off of vaccination for Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps on Thursday, in Abuja, said;
“Following the detection of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in Nigeria, the Federal Government reviewed the country’s vaccination programme and resolved to introduce the booster dose using the Pfizer Bio-N-Tech vaccine across the country”.
“Eligibility for the booster dose includes being 18 years and above, fully vaccinated with either two doses of AstraZeneca, Moderna or Pfizer Bio-N-Tech or a single dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
“The time interval before the booster dose is at least six months for these vaccines, except the Johnson and Johnson which is at least two months.
“This is another opportunity to be further protected. I, therefore, urge all those who have taken the right decision to be fully vaccinated, to walk into the nearest vaccination site for their booster dose as from tomorrow (Friday).”
Briefing on the number of doses already received, Shuaib said;
“Today, Thursday, December 9th, 2021, 7,361,810 Nigerians have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and this represents 6.6% of the eligible population”.
“3,846,762 eligible Nigerians have received their second doses and are fully vaccinated against the virus representing 3.4% of the eligible population.”
