COVID-19: FG launches phase 2 vaccine rollout, introduces website finder
…Nigeria receives 64,113,760m doses, administers over 20m doses in 18th February
By Gloria Akudoro, Abuja
The Federal Government has re-launched phase 2 of COVID-19 vaccine rollout called Optimized SCALES 2.0 Strategy with the use of Single Dose Johnson and Johnson (J&J) Vaccine and launched of Vaccination Website Finder www.vacsite finder.nphcda.gov.ng to enable citizens find Routine Immunization (RI) and COVID-19 vaccination centres near them.
The SCALES 2.0 Strategy entails the integration of COVID-19 vaccination with childhood routine immunisation for eligible adults 18 years and above and children zero to two years respectively.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, made this known at the formal rollout of J&J single dose vaccine and introduction of vaccination site finder with the theme “One Shot Covid-19 Vaccine for Everyone” in Abuja while breakingdown the SCALES acronym as, S- Service delivery, C- Communication, A- Accountability, L- Logistics, E- Electronic reporting, and S- Supportive supervision for the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination.
Recall in November 2021, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) introduced the SCALES strategy to rapidly ramp up COVID-19 vaccine coverage by expanding access to COVID-19 vaccines outside the health facility.
He has however solicited the support of development partners in regards to mass vaccination sites which have been established at all public places such as markets, parks, shopping malls, schools, mosques, and churches.
Dr. Ehanire said the launch enables all childhood vaccination, including administration of vitamin A, which will now be done alongside COVID-19 vaccination at COVID-19 vaccination sites.
“Eligible children will now be able to receive their BCG, Penta 3, OPV 3, OPV 1&2, Measles, Yellow Fever vaccines, as well as Vitamin A supplement, at the sites where the adults receive COVID-19 vaccines. This is the good news we are bringing to Nigerians today,” he said.
According to him, “The SCALES 2.0 Strategy, the J&J roll out and the vaccination site finder, are great opportunities for Nigeria to ramp up COVID-19 vaccine coverage and reinvigorate Routine Immunization uptake. The federal government has provided all Nigerians the opportunity to protect themselves and their loved ones against COVID-19 at no cost, and also enjoy the ease of access to childhood immunisation.”
The Minister who assured Nigerians of adequate stock of the J&J vaccine, noted that over 30 million doses of it is in stock aside the numbers it’s expecting from donors. He said based on current data Nigeria has administered over 20million doses, representing over 18% of the 111,176,503 eligible population targeted for COVID-19 vaccination.
However, he urged all eligible persons yet to receive their vaccination to visit the nearest COVID-19 vaccination site and get vaccinated, noting that the J&J single dose offers the same protection one gets from two doses of AstraZeneca, Pfizer Bio-N-Tech and Moderna vaccines.
He also encouraged those who have received their first dose to make sure they also receive second dose as the benefits is far greater than the little discomfort they may experience.
Appreciating Mr President for his leadership role, the NPHCDA ED and management team for the efforts made so far in fighting against coronavirus and the massive support received from development partners and donors, Dr. Ehanire assured that the FG will continue to work hand-in-hand with NPHCDA Joint Task Force on Vaccine Monitoring and Accountability to strengthen covid-19 security and accountability.
Introducing the SCALES 2.0 Strategy, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), said there couldn’t be better time than now for FG to ramp up COVID-19 vaccination as we now have in possession Vaccines with longshelf.
He noted that the SCALES 2.0 provides the opportunity to plan better and ensure that every Nigerian have access to the vaccine.
“The update is not only on the decentralisation but also on coverage expansion and access to COVID-19 vaccines. Over 200,000 eligible persons are being vaccinated per day which is less than than the 550,000 targeted per day and this requires doubling effort to meet our target,” he stressed.
Also the Director Disease Control and Immunization, NPHCDA, Dr. Bassey Okposen, presenting the update on COVID-19 vaccine rollout and how Nigerians can locate vaccination centres near them using the launched website, revealed that a total of 425m confirmed cases of COVID-19 has been confirmed globally with 5.89m deaths. While Nigeria recorded total of 254,293 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 3,142 deaths as at 22nd February, 2022.
The update also revealed that FG through the NPHCDA in collaboration with FMoH and partners planned to 50 percent vaccination coverage by the end of 1st quarter of this year and 70 percent of all eligible population by the end of 2022 to achieve herd immunity.
“Nigeria has received a total of 64,113,760m doses of different COVID-19 vaccines through AVAT and COVAX facility from March 2021 till date. While 48m doses of vaccines have been allocated to Nigeria and are expected to be received before the end of 2022. For availability, Nigeria has total of 35.9m doses of COVID-19 vaccines within the supply chain as at 15th February, 2022.”
In his remark, the Global Lead Coordinator for COVID-19 Vaccine Country Readiness and Delivery, Dr. Ted Chaiban, disclosed that now that there’s a good supply of Vaccine which was not the case in 2021, therefore, Nigeria could vaccinate 50m eligible persons by June 2022 with launch of SCALES 2.0 Strategy.
“We commit with the Nigerian Government, leadership of Federal Ministery for Health, NPHCDA and with support of partners towards series of operational strategies that will get us there. State level ownership, mutual accountability and protocol will are key to achieving success.”
