BREAKING: Nigeria commences COVID-19 vaccination

Nigeria started its COVID-19 vaccination on Friday as a medical doctor, Dr. Cyprian Ngong, of the National Hospital, Abuja, got a jab of the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine.

Dr. Cyprian Ngong, of the National Hospital, Abuja, receiving a jab of the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine

Boss Mustapha, The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation flagged off the exercise on behalf of the President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, at the exercise on Friday, described the moment as a “watershed”.

The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, additionally stated that it was crucial “to first cater for those who cater for us”.

Talking after his inoculation, Ngong, who has been treating Covid patients at the National Hospital Isolation Centre in Abuja since the commencement of the fight last year, disclosed that he wished his father had taken the vaccine as he died of the deadly virus.

He said, “We’ve been at the forefront here in National Hospital at the Isolation Centre under the able leadership of the National Hospital. They’ve provided everything we need for this fight. We’ve lost some, we’ve got some and we are happy we are getting the vaccines now in Nigeria.

“That is about the best news we’ve heard since. I only wished my dad had had this vaccine may be months ago or so. We lost him but we thank God and the fight is still on and we will win.”

Nigeria had received about four million doses of AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, which was shipped into the nation via the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport.

President Muhammadu Buhari and his vice, Professor Yemi Osinbajo will, on Saturday, receive shots of the vaccines to disintegrate vaccine hesitancy amongst citizens of Nigerian.