COVID-19 vaccines will protect humanitarian challenges – FG

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHDSD) declares, the COVID-19 vaccines that arrived the nation will protect the humanitarian difficulties that relate to the pandemic.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, stated this in a statement issued by her media aide, Mrs Nneka Anibeze on Wednesday in Abuja.

Farouq, on Tuesday, showed excitement in the arrival of the 3.92 million doses of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines that arrived in Nigeria.

She said, “Let me start by expressing my happiness for the arrival of the first consignment of the COVID-19 vaccines, this demonstrates a milestone in the history of this country in the fight against the pandemic.

“For us in the ministry, COVID-19 is both health emergency and a humanitarian challenge; the administration of the vaccine will really go a long way in cushioning the humanitarian challenges that we are facing.

“I am using this opportunity to appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari for the support he has given to the Presidential Task Force through the Chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha.

“We are all pleased and we hope that these vaccines will be effectively utilized.”

In addition, the statement cited Mustapha as portraying the arrival of the vaccines as a milestone in the history of the nation and the global response to COVID-19.

He said, “The successful development of vaccines and the accelerated process for emergency authorisation has brought hope for humanity all over the world.

“The delivery of these vaccines was made possible as a result of the resourceful leadership provided by President Buhari, the National Assembly and major financial support from our friends globally.”

The Presidential Task Force Chairman clarified that the Federal Government was anticipating an extra 84 million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines from COVAX within the year.

Mustapha stated that the vaccine would serve 20 per cent of over 200 million people in Nigeria.

He disclosed that the government would start the inoculation of frontline healthcare workers who would be the highest-priority beneficiaries and key leaders in Abuja from March 8.

The AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine, produced by the Serum Institute of India (SII) is from Mumbai, India.