How FG will distribute COVID-19 vaccine across states

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has revealed criterion that will be used for the distribution plan of the COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria.

NPHCDA said that the rate of infection in each State would be the criterion used in the distribution.

The NPHCDA revealed that all of the 36 states would get less than 4,000 vaccines from the first batch.

It revealed the plan alongside the publication of the latest infection rates of the disease by the Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC) on its verified website on Saturday.

Based on the rate of infection in the states, the distribution list of the COVID-19 vaccine indicated that Kano State will receive 3,557; Lagos, 3,131; Katsina, 2,361; Kaduna, 2,074; Bauchi, 1,900; Oyo, 1,848; Rivers, 1,766; Jigawa, 1,712; Niger, 1,558; Ogun, 1,473; Sokoto, 1,468; Benue, 1,423; Borno, 1,416; Anambra, 1,379; Zamfara, 1,336; Delta, 1,306;

Others were: Kebbi, 1,268; Imo, 1,267; Ondo, 1,228; Akwa Ibom, 1,161.Adamawa, 1,129; Edo, 1,104; Plateau, 1,089; Enugu, 1,088; Osun, 1,032; Kogi, 1,030; Cross River, 1,023; Abia, 955; Gombe, 908; Yobe, 842; Ekiti, 830; Taraba, 830; Kwara, 815; Ebonyi, 747; Bayelsa, 589; FCT, 695; Nasarawa, 661.

Those in the health and security sectors have been advised to be given priority, as well as the elderly.

The agency noted that the COVID-19 vaccine, expected to be administered in January and February, would be done in compliance with WHO standards.

The agency said the government is targeting administering the vaccine on 40 per cent of Nigerians during the first batch this year and 30per cent is expected to be done in 2022.

The agency also added that the federal government was also sourcing for vaccines from other countries like Russia.