By Remi Adebayo

Nigerians from age eighteen (18) and above, especially the elderly have been called upon to embrace the opportunity given by the availability of the COVID-19 vaccines to come out and get vaccinated to curtail rising infections rate of the virus in Nigeria.

Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha gave this charge while delivering his keynote address at the National Flag-Off of Phase 2 COVID-19 Vaccination at the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, Abuja, on Monday. 

Mustapha while commending Nigerians who previously received the first phase of AstraZeneca vaccines which ended in July noted, that the second phase offers those that are yet to get vaccinated to seize the opportunity to be captured in the exercise.

“As you are aware, the third wave with the Delta variant of the virus is here with us. This has resulted in the upsurge of COVID-19 cases in the last few weeks. The arrival of the 4,000,080 doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine donated by the Government of the United States and the 177,600 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccines out of the 29,850,000 doses the Federal Government has purchased through the Africa-Import-Export Bank and the African Union, is highly encouraging and motivating for us at the Presidential Steering Committee,” he said.

“We all have a responsibility to safeguard the health of our people by ensuring that all eligible persons in our homes and communities get vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccines while government will continue to ensure sustained availability of the vaccines. The onus is on eligible citizens to demand for, make the extra effort to access the vaccines, and get vaccinated. These vaccines are safe and efficacious and it is our only hope out of this pandemic for now.

“I therefore urge all stakeholders to mobilize their community members, aged 18 years and above, especially the elderly to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to stop the transmission of the virus as vaccination is pivotal to our efforts at containing the spread of COVID-19,” Mustapha said.

The SGF expressed happiness with the first phase of the COVID-19 vaccination and the entire national response which had been adjudged by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as one of the best in the world; describing the feedback as very heartwarming. 

He however acknowledged that there is still room for improvement as he commended the NPHCDA and other partners for various initiatives that have been introduced to address vaccine hesitancy which was one of the greatest challenges encountered during the first phase. 

“We invite all hands to be on deck to fight vaccine hesitancy in order to free our country and the rest of the world from this pandemic,” Mustapha pleaded.

He assured stakeholders comprising of traditional rulers of the Federal Government’s commitment towards ensuring that Nigerians have unfettered access to COVID-19 vaccines as the country will continue to invest in and access safe and effective vaccines. 

He said having done that, it has now become the responsibility of every citizen to register and get vaccinated so that Nigeria can achieve the desired herd immunity of vaccinating at least 70% of its eligible population.

He disclosed that the Presidential Steering Committee will continue to monitor with concern the increasing trend of COVID-19 cases in several countries with special focus on those with high incidence rate and widespread prevalence of variants of concern. 

“While Government deeply empathizes with families who have lost loved ones to this virus and assures them that we will continue to do everything possible to minimize the surge of COVID-19 cases in Nigeria, citizens are strongly advised to minimize all non-essential international travels by land, air, or sea, at this time, specifically to countries that are showing rising number of cases and deaths from COVID-19.

“Consequently, restrictions are placed on travelers from Brazil, India, South Africa and Turkey into Nigeria in line with our travel guidelines. Individuals, transporters, and airlines who flout the guidelines shall be sanctioned. 

“State Governments are required to ensure all returning travelers from all countries adhere to the mandatory seven-day self-isolation period and the repeat of COVID-19 PCR test on the seventh day after arrival. Violators will also be sanctioned accordingly,” the SGF said.

He reminded Nigerians on the need to be on alert even after receiving vaccination by observing the non-pharmaceutical measures of wearing face mask, washing the your hands frequently and maintaining physical distancing until significant eligible Nigerians get vaccinated.

Mustapha similarly commended our stakeholders, especially state Governors for demonstrating sterling leadership by example, and for the oversight during the first phase. 

“As the second phase of vaccination commences today, I believe our governors and all those in leadership position will intensify mobilization efforts and continue to facilitate the vaccination of eligible persons in the states and LGAs to ensure all allocated vaccines for the second phase are fully utilized, just as we did during the first phase when we had one hundred percent utilization of available vaccines,” the PSC chairman implored.