According to reports reaching Oyogist.com, Federal Government have Reopened the first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in various parts of the country.
The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, said this will take effect from Tuesday.
“Recall that we officially closed the vaccination for the first dose on May 24, 2021. Since then, we have been inundated with requests by Nigerians to be vaccinated,” he told reporters on Tuesday in Abuja at a briefing to update Nigerians on the status of COVID-19 vaccination.
Shuaib added, “In response, we have decided to reopen vaccination for the first dose from today.
He advised anyone who is up to 18 years and above and has not been vaccinated to visit the nearest vaccination site for the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
”He explained that such persons would be due to receive their second dose of the jab in 12 weeks, noting that Nigeria would have received the next consignment of vaccines.
Dr Faisal Shuaib noted that dedicated teams who are in charge have continued to make strides in the vaccine rollout, working hand-in-hand with the local communities all across the country.
As of June 15, The NPHCDA boss noted that the agency has administered 1,978,808 and 680,345 first and second doses of the vaccine respectively.
Shuaib called on all Nigerians who have received their first dose to check their vaccination cards for the date of their first dose.
He asked them to endeavor that they receive the second dose between six and 12 weeks from the date they took the first dose, in order to gain full protection against the COVID-19 virus.
He also stated that in some cases, the location of the second dose could be different from that of the first dose.
“I, therefore, urge all Nigerians who have received their first dose at least six weeks ago to visit the nearest vaccination site to receive their second dose, for full protection against COVID-19 on or before June 25 when we shall close the administration of the second dose,” he pleaded.
