*Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, says the country鈥檚 preparation for the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccinations is 鈥榟ighly commendable鈥�

Alexander Davis | 绿帽献妻

In relation to the most successful responses to the damaging Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has ranked Nigeria鈥檚 COVID-19 response as the fourth-best in the world.

Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, WHO Country Representative, disclosed this development when spoke at an event on the arrival of the first consignment of 177,600 doses of the Johnson and Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 Vaccines Thursday, August 12, 2021, in Abuja, FCT.

绿帽献妻 reports the Federal Government has said at least 1,173,132 doses of the vaccine, part of the 29.8 million doses being procured through the African Export-Import Bank will arrive in the country later this month.

L-R: Mr. Femi Adesina (SA to President), Dr. Osagie Ehanire (Minister for Health, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye (NAFDAC), Dr. Faisal Shuaib (NPHCDA) and Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu of NCDC, at a media briefing聽in the State House Abuja

Mulombo said: 鈥淲e are witnessing the symbolic arrival of 177,600 Johnson & Johnson vaccines, another landmark event in Nigeria鈥檚 response to COVID-19 pandemic; widely acclaimed by many as one of the most successful so far in the world.

鈥淣igeria was ranked fourth among the top ten most successful responses to COVID-19.鈥�

The Representative of UN health body also stated: 鈥淲HO had on many occasions, commended the government, including the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC), Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), for the successful completion of the first phase of the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out with the vaccination of the frontline workers and other priority groups who are at high risk of COVID-19.

鈥淣igeria鈥檚 preparation for the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination, involving more resources and logistics, is highly commendable.鈥�

He added: 鈥淭hese vaccines are safe and effective and will be the game-changer; but for the foreseeable future, we must continue wearing masks, physically distance and avoid crowds.

鈥淛&J Vaccine is highly effective against the Delta variant and against severe diseases, hospitalisations and deaths from COVID-19.鈥�

Earlier in his remarks on the occasion, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NPHCDA, had said the 177,600 doses of Johnson and Johnson Vaccine are part of the 29,850,000 doses procured from the African Union (AU) through the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT) platform.

鈥淭he balance of the vaccines will be delivered over the coming months. But we are glad to hear that before the end of August, the total quantity of vaccines that we will be receiving is 1,173,132.鈥�

According to Shuaib, Nigeria has the capability to store and distribute the vaccine to the point of administration, 鈥渁s we have working freezers in all 36 States plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).鈥�

He stated: 鈥淭he Johnson&Johnson Vaccine is stored at temperatures of +2 to +8 degree Celsius, which is the temperature in which most of our routine immunisation vaccines are stored.

鈥淏ecause it is a one-dose effective vaccine, these doses will be focused on those who are in the hard-to-reach areas, that is, the riverine areas, desert communities, security compromised areas and also the elderly.鈥�

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