Nigeria Receives 501.600 Doses of Astrazeneca Covid-19 Vaccine From France

BoomRadioNG | October 8, 2021

The Executive Director, NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, has officially taken receipt of 501,600 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines from the COVAX facility as donation from the Government of France to the Federal republic of Nigeria.

While receiving the vaccines at the National Strategic Cold Store, in Abuja, he said that Nigeria was among the first African countries to receive vaccines from France.

In his speech, he said “It is indeed gratifying to say that France has not only been a dependable development ally to Nigeria but has been quite brotherly in all ramifications. The donation of over half a million doses of AstraZeneca to Nigeria is a demonstration of France’s confidence in Nigeria’s capability as an active and progressive partner in the global fight to end the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also reiterated the Federal Government resolve to always put in place necessary measures to ensure monitoring and accountability of the vaccines.

“We track utilization of all COVID-19 vaccines in all states of the Federation and receive daily report from our Senior Supervisors and State Immunization officers who are on the field to monitor the management and administration of the vaccines“. Dr Shuaib said.

During the delivery of the vaccines, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Jerome Pasquier, commended the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in addressing the pandemic through procurement of vaccines and getting them across the country.

He said that he was happy that the French government was donating over half a million doses of the vaccine and encouraged Nigerians yet to take the vaccine to do so.

The ambassador noted that the French board was fully opened to Nigerians that were vaccinated.

Oxford_AstraZeneca_COVID-19 vaccine
gencat cat, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

“If you have a proof of vaccination, that will be said you can go to France. You do not need to have a COVID-19 test before boarding the plane. You do not need to have a COVID-19 test, when you are in France, but with your certificate from Nigeria, you can get tested, which is required in some places around the world. So, both regulations apply to Nigerian nationals. Fresh nationals, or any other nationality, because we know wherever the progress, doesn’t make difference,” Pasquier said.

The World Health Organization Country Representative Dr. Walter Mulombo also encouraged Nigerians to get vaccinated to meet the new target of 40% benchmark, by Dec.2021.

He commended Nigeria on its vaccines distribution and also its technology approach in its vaccination programme.

Adding that other countries need to come to Nigeria to learn the act of vaccine distribution.