The Federal Ministry of Health disclosed that Nigeria expects to receive up to 40 million doses of Moderna vaccines by the end of the year.
This was disclosed by the Health Minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, at the Presidential Steering Committee On COVID-19 in Abuja on Monday, after Nigeria recently received 4 million Moderna vaccines, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
What the Minister said about the expected vaccines
Ehanire said, “I want to thank the United States Government. The vaccines are undergoing the necessary validation by NAFDAC.
“Nigeria would have received over 40 million doses of vaccines by the end of the year. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency, shall commence distribution to states as soon as NAFDAC certifies them fit for use in Nigeria.”
He added that Nigeria has been experiencing sharp increases in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases since the month of July, as global anxiety over the Delta variant spreads.
“All data indicate that we are now in no doubt in the third wave of the resurgence of the SARS-COV-2 infection, which we saw coming long ago.
“As at today, Nigeria has recorded a total of 174,315 COVID-19 cases from 2,542,261 samples tested, with 7,151 active cases, and sadly, 2,149 deaths in all,” he said.
He also warned that Only 17 States made data or sample submissions in the last cycle, where Lagos and Akwa Ibom States were the epicentres.
“Of particular concern is that the delta variant spreads more rapidly and has become predominant in many countries, being 93 per cent of COVID variants in the UK.
“I, therefore, renew my call to all Nigerians to improve on observance of public health measures and non-pharmaceutic interventions, because they are the best protection we have till date, to prevent the spread of the variants.
“We are considering strategies to scale up testing and identify positive cases for isolation and treatment. If you feel unwell, please report to the nearest testing center to get the COVID-19 test,” he said.
In case you missed it
- Nairametrics reported yesterday that the NPHC took delivery of 4,000, 080 doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, donated by the United States of America through the COVAX facility.
- The Federal Government had earlier announced that it expects to receive about 8 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines, including donations from the United States government by the end of August.