The News Agency of Nigeria reports that to ensure widespread access to COVID-19 vaccines across Africa, the AU launched the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust in November 2020.

Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of Board of African Export-Import Bank (AFREXIMBANK),while handing the vaccines to the Presidential Steering Committee(PSC), on Monday in Abuja, said “that the vaccine acquisition by AVAT was a unique milestone for the African continent.

NAN reports that the West African nation is one of the earliest to benefit from a supply deal agreed in March, 2021 to procure 220 million doses for the continent, with the potential to order another 180 million.

The single dose of COVID-19 vaccine made by J&J is highly effective in preventing severe illness and death from the Delta and Beta variants of the coronavirus, data from a clinical trial in South Africa suggest.

Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Faisal Shuaib, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said the J&J vaccine, like the AstraZeneca, is safe and efficient against coronavirus disease, including the deadlier Delta variant.

According to him, the J&J vaccine is a single-shot vaccine and it is expected to boost Nigeria’s COVID-19 fight with the Delta variant sparking fears of a third wave of the pandemic.

Dr. Shuaib had recently announced that the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination programme would commence soon.

The exercise had earlier been scheduled to begin on Tuesday, but it was postponed due to “unforeseen circumstances,” according to a spokesperson in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey.

The Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, described the claim as “false”, saying that the COVID-19 vaccine does not also create magnetic field around the vaccination site.

The FG agency’s head made this known during the weekly media briefing on the progress of COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria held on Tuesday in Abuja.

While expressing concerns on the increasing wave of COVID-19 misinformation and disinformation, Shuaib urged Nigerians to make themselves available for vaccination.

Shuaib, in a speech delivered at the media briefing, said, “The anti-vaccination elements have come up with magnetic conspiracy, in which they claim, and are deceiving people with videos, that COVID-19 vaccine creates a magnetic field around vaccination site and can cause the body to light up an electric bulb.

Today I would like to make very clear and demonstrate publicly that COVID-19 vaccine does not create any magnetic effect around the vaccination site or any part of the body for that matter, neither does it cause the body to light up an electric bulb.

“It is also a well-known fact that persons with wet, moist, or sticky skin can have objects stuck to their skin especially in smooth areas. Strong friction also allows for objects to stick to the skin. COVID -19 vaccines do not contain any metal – this is another fact! So how can it generate magnetic field or light an electric bulb?”

Lagos State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu disclosed this on Tuesday at the 2021 International Women’s Day celebration organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

The doses are part of the about 4 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine shipped via the COVAX Facility, a partnership between CEPI, Gavi, UNICEF and WHO, into Nigeria on MArch 2.

The governor stated that the state government received the vaccines at 4 a.m. on Tuesday (today).

He assured residents that the vaccines were kept in a safe place.

Sanwo-Olu urged Lagosians to continue to observe COVID-19 protocols, including wearing of facemasks, washing of hands and observing social distancing.

Announcing the arrival of the vaccines, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor, Gboyega Akosile said, “We’re making progress. The world will see the end of the pandemic. Good morning Lagos.”

Members of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 were administered the vaccine during the committee’s weekly national briefing, NAN reports.

The other PTF team includes Minister of Environment, Muhammad Mahmood and Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora, Director-General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Chikwe Ihekweazu; Minister of Foreign Affairs ,Geoffrey Onyeama, and the National Incident Manager (NIM) PTF, Mukhtar Muhammad, among others.

Before he received the vaccine, Mustapha said: “Today, Monday, March, 8, 2021, I will lead all members of the PTF to receive the first doses of the vaccine as a further demonstration of the safety and efficacy.

“Also, our journalists who are critical front-liners in this fight will receive the vaccine in a representative manner.”

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had on Saturday received the COVID-19 vaccines on Saturday.

Prince Elegushi gave the admonition during a special meeting he had with the league of Ulamahs of the Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board at the Shamsi Adisa Thomas (SAT) Mosque, Old Secretariat, Ikeja, Tuesday.

The Commissioner urged the Intending Pilgrims, Ulamahs and other stakeholders in the Hajj operations not to give room for discouragement from any quarters with respect to administration of the vaccine whenever the Federal Government begins to administer it.

He added that only holders of the vaccine certificate would be allowed entry into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for 2021 Hajj exercise.

While speaking on airlifting and safety of Pilgrims to and from Saudi Arabia, the Commissioner told the meeting of the plans by the State Government through the Ministry and the Board towards ensuring that a reputable airline is engaged for the airlifting of the intending pilgrims within two to three days of operation, stressing that the old system when intending pilgrims stayed in the airport for weeks before being airlifted are gone for good.

He also emphasized that any airline that defaults on the airlifting agreement would be penalized accordingly.

Recalling the inability of the intending pilgrims to embark on Hajj in 2020, the Commissioner appreciated all the affected intending pilgrims for leaving their Hajj fare with the state government, saying that the Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu was greatly encouraged over the trust the pilgrims reposed in the state.

Elegushi who stated that Hajj was like a pillar that holds the entire universe together, promised the meeting that a befitting accommodation would be provided for pilgrims both in Makkah and Madinah as well as Muna. He sought the Ulamahs’ support for the state government in her quest towards giving the pilgrims the best of Hajj experience and medical treatment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora disclosed this on Wednesday during his appearance on Arise Tv.

”Nothing will be made mandatory. It’s optional. The choice is yours. Nobody will be forced to take any vaccine,” he said.

Asked if it might become mandatory later, Mamora said, “If that happens, it would not be a decision of Nigeria.”

According to him, just like Yellow Card certificate, countries might have to start demanding a COVID-19 vaccination certificate before allowing outsiders in.

Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib, confirmed this at a State House briefing in Abuja on Thursday.

Shuaib said, once the President and Vice President receive the vaccine, this will boost the confidence of Nigerians to receive the doses of AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine.

Shuaib said, “The next step in the vaccination programme given that we’ve now received the vaccines is a launch that will be taking place at the National Hospital tomorrow (Friday). The time scheduled for that launch is 10am. The launch will be conducted by the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.

“The plan is to vaccinate the frontline health workers that work in the treatment centre of the National Hospital. Those will be the first people just like we’ve communicated that frontline health workers will be the first people to take the vaccine.

“After that, the plan is to vaccinate Mr President, Mr Vice-President and strategic leaders on Saturday. Again, we are hopeful that when Nigerians see leaders like Mr President and Mr Vice-President take the vaccine; it will increase their confidence around the safety of the vaccines

“As you are well aware that even before the vaccine arrived Nigeria, there is a lot of hesitancy. It is a global phenomenon. Vaccine hesitancy is similar no matter where you are, you have to provide the right information and to those people who have questions, we cannot dismiss their cynicism.

“It is our responsibility as public health workers not to only offer the vaccine but do the extra work in terms of providing the resources that are needed and to convince people that these vaccines are safe.”

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, stated this in a statement issued by her media aide, Mrs Nneka Anibeze on Wednesday in Abuja.

She said: “Let me start by expressing my happiness for the arrival of the first consignment of the COVID-19 vaccines, this demonstrates a milestone in the history of this country in the fight against the pandemic.

“For us in the ministry, COVID-19 is both health emergency and a humanitarian challenge; the administration of the vaccine will really go a long way in cushioning the humanitarian challenges that we are facing.

“I am using this opportunity to appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari for the support he has given to the Presidential Task Force through the Chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha.

“We are all pleased and we hope that these vaccines will be effectively utilised.”

The statement also quoted Mustapha as describing the arrival of the vaccines as a milestone in the history of the country and international response to COVID-19.

“The successful development of vaccines and the accelerated process for emergency authorisation has brought hope to humanity all over the world.

“The delivery of these vaccines was made possible as a result of the resourceful leadership provided by President Buhari, the National Assembly and major financial support from our friends globally,” he said.