Olalekan Adetayo
Indications have emerged that Kano, Lagos, Katsina and Kaduna states have the highest number of health workers that would receive the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines when the first batch arrive in the country in next few weeks.
The Director, Disease Control and Immunisation, NPHCDA, Dr Bassey Okposen, in his presentation, in a chart during the Friday webinar revealed the number of health workers in each state to be prioritised for vaccination once the vaccines arrive.
Okposen, in the chart, pointed out that 3,557 health workers in Kano State would be prioritised; 3,131 health workers in Lagos; 2,361 in Katsina, 2,074 in Kaduna; 1,900 in Bauchi; 1,848 in Oyo; 1,766 in Rivers; 1,712 in Jigawa; 1,558 in Niger; 1,473 in Ogun; 1,468 in Sokoto; 1,423 in Benue; 1,416 in Borno; 1,379 in Anambra and 1,306 in Delta State.
Furthermore, 1,336 health workers would be prioritised in Zamfara; 1,267 in Imo; 1,228 in Ondo; 1,032 in Osun; 1,268 in Kebbi; 1,129 in Adamawa; 1,161 in Akwa Ibom; 1,104 in Edo; 1,030 in Kogi; 1,089 in Plateau; 1,088 in Enugu; 1,023 in Cross River; 955 in Abia; 908 in Gombe; 842 in Yobe; 830 in Taraba; 830 in Ekiti; 815 in Kwara; 747 in Ebonyi; 695 in the Federal Capital Territory and 580 in Bayelsa state.
Okposen explained further that the vaccine would be introduced in four phases, mainly due to the availability, adding that this was based on the guidelines of the World Health Organisation, priority would be given to frontline health workers, persons on essential duties, like immigration personnel at the airport, persons above 50 years, and vulnerable individuals with co-morbid conditions.
He noted that states with higher number of cases would also be given additional doses to address their cases.
He added, “The vaccines have already undergone WHO pre-qualification and they would have NAFDAC certification before they would be given to members of the public. The health and frontline workers to be immunised would be electronically prelisted, detailing their location and names before the vaccination starts so that we know where the vaccine have gone to.”
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