Omicron variant: NPHCDA to begin booster shots from Friday, as 7.4m Nigerians receive vaccine

National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) has disclosed that it will begin administering the booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine from Friday to counter the spread of new variant Omicron in Nigeria.

The booster shot, also called the third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, is already being administered in Europe and the United States of America.

Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib said this at the Flag-off of COVID-19 Mass Vaccination of Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, in Abuja.

He said that following the detection of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in Nigeria, the Federal Government reviewed the country’s vaccination programme and resolved to introduce the booster dose using the Pfizer Bio-N-Tech vaccine across the country as this will take effect as from tomorrow, Friday the 10th of December 2021.

Dr. Shuaib further reiterated that the Nigerian COVID-19 vaccination programme is science-driven, adding that evidence has shown that the booster dose further increases protection against the virus.

“Eligibility for the booster dose includes being 18 years and above, fully vaccinated with either two doses of AstraZeneca, Moderna or Pfizer Bio-N-Tech or a single dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine”. Dr. Shuaib said.

He noted that the time interval before the booster dose is at least six months for these vaccines, except the Johnson and Johnson which is at least two months.

“This is another opportunity to be further protected. I therefore urge all those who have taken the right decision to be fully vaccinated, to walk into the nearest vaccination site for their booster dose as from tomorrow. I want to reassure everyone that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and efficacious.

We have in place the required measures and precautions to ensure vaccine monitoring and accountability. We are committed to ensure that our vaccination teams will be available on site here and in other camps daily until every eligible person has received their vaccines,“ he said.

Dr. Shuiab further disclosed that as at Thursday December 9th 2021, 7,361,810 Nigerians have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and this represents 6.6% of the eligible population. 3,846,762 eligible Nigerians have received their second doses and are fully vaccinated against the virus representing 3.4% of the eligible population.

“As you are aware, since the detection of the first case of COVID-19 infection in Nigeria about two years ago, the Federal Government has taken decisive steps to control the spread of the virus in the Country. Despite the challenges of large-scale misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines, Nigeria has successfully vaccinated over seven million eligible persons, and I am glad to inform you that none of these persons has died as a result of receiving COVID-19 vaccine.

“While we remain grateful to God Almighty for using these leaders to intervene for our dear country, it is important to mention that the decision of over 7 million Nigerians to take the COVID-19 vaccine has been based on their rightful conviction that the vaccines are safe and effective in protecting them against the disease,” he said.

“It is in furtherance of this determination that we introduced the COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Campaign to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 Vaccines by everyone. Our presence here today, to flag-off the vaccination of our brothers and sisters in these camps across the country is also in fulfillment of that determination. Everyone, no matter where they are in the country MUST have access to the COVID-19 vaccines,” Dr. Shuaib noted.

In a related development, the World Health Organization (WHO) says 10 African countries account for 46% of Omicron cases reported globally.

It further added that the majority of these countries are within southern Africa, where scientists are being extra-vigilant for other cases and are analysing samples to check for changes to the virus.

Hospitalisation rates and severe cases remain low in South Africa, local data shows. But research is still ongoing, the WHO says.

“No coronavirus deaths have been linked to the Omicron variant and travel bans won’t stop the virus from circulating,” the global health body said.

Getting vaccines into people’s arms will prevent the virus from mutating further, says WHO.

In Africa, only Mauritius, Morocco, Tunisia, Seychelles, Cape Verde and Botswana have reached the global target of vaccinating 40% of their populations by the end of this year.

Many African countries are yet to administer jabs for logistical reasons, while public scepticism about getting the vaccine remains a barrier.