Covid-19: Disquiet Over Vaccine Sharing Formula To States As FG Releases Data

As the federal government is set to begin its mass vaccine rollout to inoculate citizens against the rampaging coronavirus, some state Governors have faulted the number of vaccine doses allocated to their states, raising dust on the sharing formula.

According to the data released by the Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib, the 36 states and FCT would share 100,000 doses of vaccine expected to arrive the country in late January.

Also, another consignment of 42 million free doses is in the works through COVAX facility as the World Health Organisation on Thursday said 900 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine are expected in Africa by 2021.

The data shared by NPHCDA shows that Kano will get highest figure — 3,557 vaccines, while Lagos the epicentre of the virus outbreak in the country will get 3,131.

In the distribution order, Katsina will get 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; Kebbi, 1,268; Zamfara, 1,336; Delta, 1,306; Imo, 1,267; Ondo, 1,228; and Akwa Ibom, 1,161.

Also, Adamawa, 1,129; Edo, 1,104; Plateau, 1,089; Enugu, 1,088; Osun, 1,032; Kogi, 1,030; Abia, 955; Gombe, 908; Yobe, 842; Ekiti, 830; Taraba, 830; Kwara, 815; Ebonyi, 747; Bayelsa, 589; FCT, 695 and Nasarawa, 661.

But some state Governors have been protesting in the background over the number of vaccines allocated to their states.

The New Diplomat learnt that the protesting Governors who are querying the sharing formula, complained that the allocation of the vaccine was not discussed by the Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF).

For instance, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom while faulting the allocation said: “the issue of allocation of COVID-19 vaccine doses ought to have been discussed at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.”

Worried by their states’ quota, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde, have said they plan to procure more Covid-19 vaccines for their individual states.

Also, the Ogun state government has raised questions on the sharing formula.

Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Public Communications, Remmy Hazzan, was qouted by the Punch on Thursday to have said: “Everybody knows that Lagos is the epicentre and even in the lockdown directive of the Federal Government,  you will see that it was a rat race involving Lagos and Ogun states as well as the FCT (the Federal Capital Territory).

“So, why we are not getting as many as we should get, we don’t know, but when the details are out, we will be able to respond accordingly. I want to believe that those people that are there (NPHCDA) know what they are doing.”