Baring all fears, Cyprian Nyong, a medical doctor with the National Hospital, Abuja, has become the first person in Nigeria to receive AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine.
Nyong was given the vaccine during the flag-off of the launch by the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Apart from Dr. Nyong, other health care workers who received the AstraZeneca vaccine during the launch were nurse Faith E. Eragbai, Dr. Nuru Joseph and Dr. Thairu Yunusa.
Meanwhile, President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will receive the COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday. This was stated by the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib.
Dr. Shuaib said this at the State House weekly briefing held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he had also confirmed that administering the 19 vaccine would begin on Friday.
Earlier Friday, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, had cleared the AstraZeneca vaccine for usage.
The NPHCDA stated the clearance in a tweet: “After undergoing final assessment by NAFDAC, we have confirmation that they have concluded their final checks with positive results. Nigeria can now go ahead and use the 3.924m doses of AstraZeneca vaccines. #YesToCOVID19Vaccine.”
