The African Union (AU) has delivered the first shipment of 177,600 Johnson and Johnson vaccine doses under the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVA) to Nigeria.
The Executive Director of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA),Dr.Fausal Shuaib,who received and inspected the vaccines in Abuja,said Nigeria was among the first 10 African countries to benefit from such gesture.
Nigeria benefitted from a supply agreement signed in March 2021 to acquire 220 million doses for the continent, with the option to order an additional 180 million,he said.
According to Shuaib , ”the 177, 600 doses would step up efforts to battle a third wave of infections across the country, noting that the single-shot Covid-19 vaccine, was the first of its monthly supplies under an arrangement with AU nations.”
“Nigeria took delivery of 177,600 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccines, being part of the 29,850,000 doses that the Federal Government of Nigeria procured through the AVAT of the AU Commission through the facility provided by African Export-Import Bank (AFREXIMBANK)
“The balance of the vaccine will subsequently be delivered in monthly tranches.”
“This batch of Johnson and Johnson vaccines will be focused on those who are in the hard-to-reach areas (riverine areas, desert areas and security-compromised areas), the elderly and frail individuals.
“This is because the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is administered as a single dose vaccine unlike the AstraZeneca and Moderna that require two doses for complete vaccination,” Dr Shuaib said.
The Regional Chief Operating officer, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Mr Abdoulaye Kone , said that the vaccine acquisition by AVAT was a unique milestone for the African continent.
He further stated that, ”the delivery marks the first time that the AU Member States have collectively purchased vaccines to safeguard the health of the African population.”
Mr Kone disclosed that the first monthly shipment of vaccines acquired by AVAT commenced on Aug. 5, to several Member States,and the shipments would continue for a total of 6.4m doses shipped in August.
