The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 on Monday explained that Kogi State is yet to receive its share of the AstraZeneca vaccine because it hasn’t established a cold chain for storage.
“All States except Kogi received a vaccine allocation in the last few days. Kogi will get its allocation, as soon as its vaccine cold chain is fully established. We are in touch with the State Commissioner of Health in this regard,” Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire said in a statement.
“Private importation of COVID-19 vaccines has not been authorized, due to reports of substandard and falsified vaccines. Deployment will for now, only be handled by National Primary Health Care Development Agency, or so accredited facilities.”
The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, added that other states have received their vaccines.
He stated this in Abuja, during the briefing of the PTF on COVID-19 on Monday.
He said, “The AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine has been distributed to all states, except Kogi State. The first phase of our vaccination will focus on frontline health workers and others on essential duties in the next few days. Kogi state was not supplied with the vaccine because their cold store is still under repairs following vandalisation during the ENDSARS protest.
“Similarly, all state governors, apart from Kogi, have launched the vaccination programme in their states. These launches also involve public vaccination of the governors and strategic leaders.
“I want to assure Nigerians that the Federal Government through the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 is firmly committed to safe and successful COVID-19 vaccination in the country. No safety and efficacy standard has been compromised in the decision of the government to introduce the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine was approved for emergency use listing by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and was tested and certified safe and effective for use in Nigeria by NAFDAC.
“Our cold chain stores are very efficient to ensure that optimal temperatures are maintained in the distribution of these vaccines through the States and local government areas throughout the country.”
