Dr Cyprian Nyong, a frontline caregiver working with COVID-19 patients at the National Hospital isolation centre since March 2020, today became the first Nigerian to receive the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 jab.
Nigeria started the national flag-off of the COVID-19 vaccination at National Hospital, Abuja on Friday, with health workers as the first sets of people being administered with the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 jab.
The national flag-off of the COVID-19 vaccination at National Hospital, Abuja on Friday 5th March 2021, comes a few days after Nigeria received the first batch of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines.
Nigeria with over 200million people, received about 3,924,000 doses of the COVID19 vaccine in this first batch under the COVAX Facility.
Both President Muhammadu Buhari and the Vice President, Osinbajo are expected to receive the vaccine on Saturday, but the health workers with Dr Cyprian Nyong leading the way, are being administered before anybody/group.
This also follows the earlier statement by the Presidency, on how the rollout phase will follow:
1/ Frontline health workers & strategic leadership
2/ 50 & above (60 & above, then 50-59 – with priority of course for people with co-morbidities)
3/ 18-49 with co-morbidities
4/ Rest of eligible population (i.e. 18-49 without co-morbidities).