The Federal Government on Monday raised the alarm over reported racketeering of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines in some of the designated vaccination centres.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Abdullaziz Mashi Abdullahi, raised the alarm while speaking at the joint national briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.
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According to him, this is not necessary as vaccination has been scheduled in phases such that frontline health workers and those at higher risk of the infection are vaccinated first after registration on the portal.
“We have received reports of racketeering in some of the designated vaccination centres. This is not necessary. Vaccination has been scheduled in phases such that frontline health workers and those at higher risk of the infection are vaccinated first after registration at the portal. Everyone will be vaccinated free and everyone will eventually be vaccinated. There is no need to pay to be vaccinated,” Ehanire said.
Meets AstraZeneca officials over safety
The minister also said that government met with the AstraZeneca group at the Federal Ministry of Health and that the meeting provided an opportunity for one-on-one clarification on the vaccines.
He said, “The outcome of the meeting was a reassurance of the safety and efficacy of the vaccine against Covid-19.
“We have not yet recorded unusual side effects among those who have received the vaccine which include myself. NAFDAC is monitoring the process as part of a global tracking of adverse effects of the vaccine.
“Anyone who has received the vaccine and is experiencing any adverse reaction, should please report to NAFDAC using the Med Safety App on your phone or report at the centre where you received the vaccination.”
While acknowledging that there has been a reduction in the number of confirmed cases daily even with sustained testing rate and government intend to keep it so, he said that the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria as of Monday morning was 161,737 from 1,727,467 samples tested with a test positivity rate of 9.4 percent.
He, however said that Nigeria, sadly, have recorded 2,030 deaths.
He said, “In the last week, we have recorded a total of 1080 cases. This is less than what was recorded daily during the second wave even with sustained testing. While this is good, we shall not on account of this, rest on our oars for it is still too early to do so.
“We shall continue to sustain our testing rate to ensure that we identify, isolate and treat positive cases in the country. This is necessary to avoid a third wave which some countries are presently experiencing.”
He added, “In addition to this, we are sustaining distribution of available commodities, PPEs and consumables to ensure availability at all times for end users at treatment centres.
“Evidence has shown improvement in management of cases as many gaps identified during the supervisory visits are being addressed. Some centres are operating in new and purpose-built Isolation wards, while there’s an ongoing remodelling of some centres, improved workflow, better IPC practice and availability of better equipment such as Oxygen Concentrators, ventilators among others.”
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