Amidst the surge of Omicron, the new covid 19 variant in Nigeria the federal government has dislosed that it has procured the johnson and Johnson vaccine for $29 million. This was revaled by the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire. The development also comes on the back of suggestions by health experts that many Nigerians are not prepared to take the vaccine.
Vice president Yemi Osinbajo recently said barely four per cent Nigerians will have taken the vaccine by the end of the year despite the various covid vaccines donation received from friendly nations and development partners such as the World Bank, EU US and the World Health Organisation, WHO.
“Although we have received some help from friendly nations and the Covax alliance, less than four per cent of our eligible population will have been vaccinated by the end of the year. There is no question that we cannot afford not to have our own vaccine production facilities,” Osinbajo said.
Worried by the attitudes of many Nigerians to the vaccines, the fedreal government recently enforced the no-vaccine jab no -work for federal civil servants by preventing un-jabbed workers from entering their offices.
Speaking on a Channels Television programme on Sunday, the minister said 40 million doses of the vaccine has been procured by the federal government, noting that the vaccines will be received in batches.
The mnister said “the 40 million doses will come in stages. We have not requested that they be brought in bulk because we are going to be receiving them as we are dispensing them. In addition to that, we have received doses from partners, friends, and other countries all going through the Covax facility and the Covax facility collates all vaccines that other countries want to give to us.”
He allayed fears over the surge of Omicron across the world, adding that the government will require the cooperation of all Nigerians to tackle the virus, saying there is no fatality yet in the country, though he expressed sadness imposed on Nigeria and many African countries by the United Kingdom, UK following the rising number of Omicron across the continent.
The UK secretary of health, Said Javid in a tweet at the weekend said, the imposition of a travel restriction on citizens of Nigeria following is as a result of an increase in the number of cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 across the world.
He tweeted, “In light of the most recent data, we are taking further action to slow the incursion of the Omicron variant. From 4am on Monday, only UK/Irish citizens and residents travelling from Nigeria will be allowed entry and must isolate in a managed quarantine facility.
“And from 4am on Tuesday, anyone travelling to the UK from countries not on the Red List will be required to take a pre-departure test, regardless of their vaccination status.Vaccines remain our first line of defence— the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones. Please get vaccinated or #GetBoosted as soon as you can.”
The travel restrictions took effect from 4 am on Monday December 6
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