COVID-19: Why FG ordered states to stop vaccination midway – Minister

The Federal Government has clarified why it directed all states managing the COVID-19 vaccine to discontinue the activity the instant they utilised half of the dosages apportioned to them.

Minister of State for Health, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, gave the clarification at Tuesday’s media conference of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, in Abuja.

Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora

He clarified that the order became essential since the nation was not sure when next the second batch of the AstraZeneca vaccine would arrive the nation.

Mamora declared that it was also to allow those who had gotten their first shot to be able to complete their vaccination.

As indicated by him, it is correct, the order to states to vaccinate half of the dosages deployed.

He said, “We believe that in a situation where we still cannot specifically determine when the next batch of AstraZeneca vaccine will arrive, then I think wisdom dictates that it’s better for us to vaccinate people fully.

“And so, we can say that we have a pool of citizens that have been fully vaccinated, since this vaccination comes in two doses.

“So that’s what gave rise to that directive, rather than just going ahead with just single dose when the full dose should be two doses of the same.

“So we felt that it was proper for us in the circumstance to ensure that those who have been vaccinated have been fully vaccinated.”

However, the Director General of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, guaranteed that the agency was conducting an investigation on the reported blood clotting in certain people that had received the first shot of AstraZeneca vaccine.

Ihekweazu stated, “There have been ongoing investigations that we have all been following on the suspected link that the AstraZeneca vaccines to certain rear experience of blood clotting in individuals in Europe.

“Those investigations are still ongoing. Not all European countries are adopting the vaccines for their populations.

“In Nigeria, with every vaccine, we have a parallel system to measure and to monitor any side effects.

“That is ongoing and is being managed by the National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control in collaboration with National Primary Health Care Development Agency.

“We will continue to monitor patients in Nigeria. You know, every demographic is different, the demographic in taking vaccines in every country is different, the interaction between different drugs people are taking.

“So there are many circumstances that need to be fully evaluated, we will look at the data ourselves here in Nigeria and I will take action as needed.

“So I think for now, we can be sure that we have an effective vaccination programme going on. And we’re very responsive to the concerns of Nigerians, I will respond to them as appropriate.”