..As FG Prioritizes Vulnerable Health Workers In First Phase Of Inoculation
President Muhummadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will receive the Covid-19 vaccine on live television to boost Nigerians’ confidence in the mass vaccination programme.
Also, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha and other prominent Nigerians will be among the first set of Nigerians to be inoculated.
The Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisai Shuaib disclosed this at the briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19, Thursday.
“This is to help drive awareness on the virus and the vaccine administration in the country when it finally arrived,” Shuaib said.
“In terms of the prioritization of vaccines and strategic country leadership, what it means is that I had mentioned that we will like to see a situation where Mr. President, the Vice President, the SGF, critical leaders come and take the vaccine in full glare of the public to demonstrate that his vaccine is safe.”
There have been fears among citizens over the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines, but Shuaib allayed those concerns.
He added that key frontline workers will be prioritized in the first phase of the vaccination programme due to their vulnerability to contracting the contagion.
“For example, in warfare, if you want to destroy your enemies, you look specific leaders, captians, the generals, once you decapitate them, then the soldiers will become weak.”
“So, as much as possible, you do not want to also leave your leaders vulnerable to COVID-19, it doesn’t mean you want to prioritize politicians, that is not correct.”
“I emphasized during the last briefing that we will prioritize our health workers because they are the ones in direct contacts with cases in isolation units” Shuaib said.
