The National Primary Health Care Development Agency has said that more than 64 million people in Nigeria eligible for COVID-19 vaccination had been fully vaccinated.
The NPHCDA said the proportion represents 55.3 percent of the target population.
It also said that more than 76 million Nigerians in the target population had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, representing 65.7 percent of the target population.
The NPHCDA revealed this on Monday in Abuja at the Federal Ministry of Health’s ministerial press conference on COVID-19 and other developments in the health sector.
Speaking at the briefing, Chief Executive Officer/CEO Dr. Faisal Shuaib said the agency is working with stakeholders to raise awareness, social mobilization and increase vaccination coverage against COVID-19.
Dr. Shuaib, who was represented by Dr. Garuba Bulama at the agency, said: “The fight against COVID-19 is not over. Three years after the coronavirus emerged, a new variant, XBB.1.5, is fast becoming the dominant strain in parts of the United States and has been detected in at least 28 other countries, according to the World Health Organization. It is due to a potent mix of mutations that makes it easier to spread widely. XBB.1.5 has been listed by the WHO as the most transmissible descendant to date of the omicron variant.
“Although it accounted for one percent of all COVID-19 cases in early December, estimates from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that it became the dominant strain by the end of the month, responsible for about 41 percent. percent of all infections. In the northeastern states, that number has surpassed 70 percent.
“The increase in the number of cases observed globally is the result of the mutation that is occurring and the low intake of booster doses.
“Therefore, we call on Nigerians to ensure they take their booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Like the flu shot, vaccines against COVID-19 have become routine vaccines that help protect us against this deadly virus.”
The agency added that it will continue to work with states and partners to ensure that underperforming states are pressured to ensure full coverage of all eligible populations.
