States like Lagos, Ogun, Kaduna, and Bauchi, have vaccinated the highest number of persons at 122,714; 50,052; 43,601; and 33,157 respectively.

In terms of percentage vaccinated relative to the target population, Kwara, Ogun, and Bauchi are leading the pack at 102.8 percent, 88.5 percent, and 82.3 percent,  respectively.

Lagos State Government has revealed that over 127,000 Lagosians have taken the COVID-19 vaccine, two weeks after the exercise began.

With the statistics, Lagos has vaccinated more persons compared to other states in Nigeria.

The firm also said it was 79 percent effective at preventing symptomatic Covid-19 in the overall population and 100 percent effective at preventing severe disease and hospitalization.

Several countries had advised against administering the jab to older people due to a lack of data among elderly participants in previous trials. Earlier this month several countries also paused the use of the AstraZeneca shot over fears it may cause blood clots.

The US phase III trial of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University involved 32,449 participants, with two thirds receiving the jab, the pharmaceutical firm said in a statement.

Around 20 percent were 65 or older, and about 60 percent had health conditions associated with a higher risk of severe Covid-19, such as diabetes, severe obesity or cardiac disease.

“These findings reconfirm previous results observed in AZD1222 trials across all adult populations but it’s exciting to see similar efficacy results in people over 65 for the first time,” said Ann Falsey, professor of medicine at University of Rochester School of Medicine and co-lead principal investigator for the trial.

“This analysis validates the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine as a much-needed additional vaccination option, offering confidence that adults of all ages can benefit from protection against the virus.”

The trial’s independent data safety monitoring board found no increased risk of thrombosis among the 21,583 participants who received at least one dose, the statement said.

Some leading EU countries have resumed AstraZeneca vaccinations after the European Medicines Agency said Thursday the jab was “safe and effective” and was not linked to an increased risk of blood clots.

AstraZeneca said it was preparing to submit its findings to the US Food and Drug Administration to authorize the shot for emergency use.

“These results add to the growing body of evidence that shows this vaccine is well tolerated and highly effective against all severities of Covid-19 and across all age groups,” said Mene Pangalos, executive vice president of biopharmaceuticals R&D.

“We are confident this vaccine can play an important role in protecting millions of people worldwide against this lethal virus.”

The results also suggested that administering the second shot more than four weeks after the first could further increase efficacy.

Previous trials have shown leaving up to 12 weeks between jabs increased its efficacy.

The Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Council, His Eminence Sa’ad Abubakar, stated this at a meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire; and the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib on Friday in Abuja.

As controversies over the effectiveness of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines continue, the Federal Government decided to meet with Muslim scholars and imams led by the Sultan to seek their support.

The vaccine has been endorsed by NSCIA but the Sultan said the organization will not decide for anyone whether or not to take the jab.

The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha while speaking at the meeting announced that the task force was working to begin vaccination of religious and traditional leaders in other to boost the confidence of the public.

Mustapha, however, commended the Muslim scholars and imams for their support to the government in the management of the virus.

In his remarks, Ehanire reiterated that the AstraZeneca vaccine was safe and those who have already been vaccinated, including himself, have yet to report any side effects.

He explained that the government decided to involve the religious leaders so as to speed up the administration of the vaccines, considering the impact of the disease on the Nigerian population.

For the NPHCDA chief, the government decided to convene the meeting in order to clear the air on the lingering controversy and commence mass vaccination.

He noted that the European Union Medicines Council had also reversed its initial decision to stop the use of the vaccine and said that it was safe for use.

It said the countries suspended the vaccines due to reports of rare blood coagulation disorders in persons who had received the vaccine.

The health body which recommended the vaccine said that some countries in the EU, having considered the same information, had decided to continue using the vaccine.

WHO explained that it has considered the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine and it outweighed its risks.

“Vaccination against COVID-19 will not reduce illness or deaths from other causes. Thromboembolic events are known to occur frequently. Venous thromboembolism is the third most common cardiovascular disease globally.

“In extensive vaccination campaigns, it is routine for countries to signal potential adverse events following immunization. This does not necessarily mean that the events are linked to vaccination itself, but it is good practice to investigate them. It also shows that the surveillance system works and that effective controls are in place, the statement said,” it said.

It added that it was carefully assessing the latest available safety data for the AstraZeneca vaccine and will immediately communicate the findings to the public.

They insisted that the vaccine was safe for use, stressing that no side effects had been reported by those who have so far received the jabs in Nigeria.

The Governors forum stated this during their meeting on Wednesday following concerns about the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the country, which had been suspended in some countries.

The meeting which was presided over by the NFG Chairman and Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, received a brief on the status of the vaccine roll out from its COVID-19 Technical Advisory Group (CTAG) led by renowned virologist, Professor Oyewale Tomori.

In its briefing, CTAG recommended that Nigeria should continue to vaccinate all eligible persons with the AstraZeneca vaccine, in line with the latest recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The governors, in their response, reiterated their belief in the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine and agreed to continuously encourage uptake of the vaccines by all eligible persons in their states.

They, however, called on the people to report any adverse events noticed after taking the vaccine jabs.

NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye,  made this known in Abuja, shortly after she got vaccinated on Thursday.

According to her, NAFDAC went through the application dossier of the vaccine before it was approved to be administered on Nigerians for the treatment of COVID-19, NAN reports.

“When we got the dossier or the application package of the vaccine, we went through it line by line, but before we got the application itself, we went through other assessments.

“I am talking about their assessment report so that we are prepared and guided when we start our own and that was exactly what happened.

“We conclude based on quality, safety and efficacy because we have to depend on the report, this particular AstraZeneca vaccine, over 20, 000 people were involved in phase three of the report,’’ she said.

Adeyeye said that the effectiveness of AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh the risk, as it has already been scrutinised.

She noted that there was no medicine without its side effect, especially when still going through the developmental stage.

The director-general said that from all indications of quality and efficacy, the benefit of AstraZeneca vaccine outweighs the risk and the side effect

Garba Shehu the Senior Special Assistant to the President disclosed this in statement to refute the misconceptions about the safety of the vaccine administered, noting that all has remained normal after the President received jabs.

“The President felt normal and went about doing his job.

“If there are side effects that follow, we will be open about that but so far there is nothing of a side effect, serious or mild on the President.

“He is carrying on as normal,” the statement partly read.

Shehu in his statement hoped that a strong message will be sent among the people, especially those grappling with hesitancy about the efficacy and safety of the vaccine.

President Buhari on Saturday received the AstraZeneca vaccine, a day after the Federal Government launched the vaccination exercise in the country.

His Vice, Professor Osinbajo also received the vaccine

They both took the vaccine jab on Saturday at the new Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire made this announcement on Friday at commencement of the COVID-19 vaccination for the frontline workera at the National Hospital in Abuja.

He disclosed that the government agency cleared the vaccine for use in the country after it concluded its final test on it.

Ehanire said, “The long-awaited day is here on which Nigerians can now join others in the global community to be vaccinated against the dreaded COVID-19 virus.

“For us in the health sector, it is a relief and the marking of the start of a tedious but hopeful exercise to see our fellow citizens develop immunity against this virus.

“I am also relieved again to announce that at 12 minutes past midnight today (Friday), I got a text message informing me that NAFDAC has certified this vaccine for use, otherwise we will not be sitting here today.”

The warning from Germany comes amid a bitter dispute between the European Union and the drugmaker over delayed supplies of the vaccine to European countries. The EU has ordered 300 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine which could be approved for use by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) on Friday with an option to purchase an additional 100 million doses.

According to the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) at Germany’s Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the country’s main public health authority,  there is insufficient data on the effectiveness of the vaccine, developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford, for this age group.

A statement by the STIKO and RKI released on Thursday, January 28, says “Due to the small number of study participants in the age group 65 years, no conclusion can be made regarding efficacy and safety in the elderly. This vaccine is now recommended by STIKO only for persons aged 18-64 years”