Kogi, the only State yet to received vaccines in Nigeria — PTF

The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 on Monday explained that due to the ongoing repairs of the cold store facility in Kogi State, it is yet to receive vaccines.

It added that the state is now the only state yet to receive the vaccine as its cold store was vandalised during the ENDSARS protests last year.

The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, stated these in Abuja, during the briefing of the PTF on COVID-19.

He said, “The AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine has been distributed to all states, except Kogi State. The first phase of our vaccination will focus on frontline health workers and others on essential duties in the next few days. Kogi state was not supplied with the vaccine because their cold store is still under repairs following vandalisation during the ENDSARS protest.

“Similarly, all state governors, apart from Kogi, have launched the vaccination programme in their states. These launches also involve public vaccination of the governors and strategic leaders.

“I want to assure Nigerians that the Federal Government through the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 is firmly committed to safe and successful COVID-19 vaccination in the country. No safety and efficacy standard has been compromised in the decision of the government to introduce the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine was approved for emergency use listing by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and was tested and certified safe and effective for use in Nigeria by NAFDAC.

“Our cold chain stores are very efficient to ensure that optimal temperatures are maintained in the distribution of these vaccines through the States and local government areas throughout the country.”