The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) says Nigeria is close to achieving herd immunity against COVID-19 as a result of effective vaccination.
The Executive Director of the agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib, made the disclosure yesterday in Abuja during the national evaluation meeting of milestone achievements in COVID-19 vaccination in the country.
Herd immunity is the indirect protection from an infectious disease which happens when a population is immune, either through vaccination or immunity developed through previous infection.
He said, “We planned to vaccinate up to 70% of the eligible population with at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. We have been able to vaccinate 65.4 % of the eligible population with that one dose.
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“So we are just about 4% or 5% of the target that we set for the end of 2022. So we are there. And this is another win for Nigeria. Just as the saying, where there is a will there is a way.”
He said the success achieved in COVID-19 vaccination in the country is not just the effort of the NPHCDA, Federal Ministry of Health and donors but as a result of the efforts and support of traditional rulers and religious leaders, the media and all Nigerians.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, who was represented by the Minister of State for Health, Joseph Ekumankama, commended Nigerians for the vaccination drive, and confidence in the government despite the misinformation against the vaccines.
He said the federal government through the NPHCDA was ready to provide all the resources needed to vaccinate all eligible target populations against the virus.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has lauded the achievements on COVID-19 vaccination in the country, saying that traditional rulers are committed to sensitizing the members of the public to get vaccinated.
The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, said till date, the US has supported the distribution of about 33. 4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from the national to the state level and 44. 6 million doses from the state to the local government level.
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