COVID-19: FG seeks functional ultra-cold equipment across the country

 

 

AKOR SYLVESTER-Abuja

 

 

Federal government has called on states that are yet to receive COVID-19 vaccines to fully work on their ultra-cold chain equipment’s and make them functional to enable them store the vaccines at the required temperatures when received.

 

 

It also said that states must have backup storage facilities such as Walk-in cold room, Walk-in freezer or chest freezers with reliable 24-hr power supply in readiness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

 

The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA)  Faisal Shuaib who stated this at a media briefing on Progress of Phase 2 COVID-019 vaccination in Nigeria in Abuja yesterday said some states were yet to put their houses together in terms of preparedness to receive the vaccines for the people.

 

Part of the readiness, apart from the standard equipment, he said we’re training of health care workers who will monitor the equipment and the vaccines.

 

He urged the state governors to ensure that the vaccines are protected and administered on the people in order to win the war against COVID-19 pandemic in the country..

 

“In the last few days, our focus has been on distributing the range of COVID-19 vaccines – Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca to the states, as well as concluding the training of state and LGA personnel to ensure optimum vaccine utilization.

 

“So far, we have deployed Moderna vaccines to 29 States. It is pertinent to state that we could not deploy the vaccines immediately after NAFDAC certification because, unlike the AstraZeneca, the Moderna vaccine did not come with complete barcoding. And this is absolutely needed for us to be able to track and trace the vaccines. As I told you in previous meetings, Nigeria was the first country to use Track and Trace, to monitor the movement and utilization of the vaccine. At every point in time, we know where each vaccine vial is in the country. This takes a lot of time as it entails careful packaging, serialization and follow up to the end user.

 

“Furthermore, we want to ensure that any state we are sending the vaccine to, is fully ready to receive them. Readiness here means that the state’s ultra-cold chain equipment is fully functional and able to store the vaccines at the required temperatures. Also, the states must have back-up storage facilities such as Walk-in cold room, Walk-in freezer or chest freezers with reliable 24-hrs power supply.

 

“Additionally, we require that the States have completed the training of health care workers who will monitor the equipment and the vaccines.

 

“Now that the vaccines are in the States, we are counting on our Governors to continue to provide the needed oversight and resources to ensure that these vaccines are secured and maintained in the required temperatures and that all eligible persons are mobilized to access the vaccines to protect themselves, their families and their communities against COVID-19.

 

“For the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is a single dose, using Geographical Information System (GIS) we have mapped out the hard-to-reach areas across all States, such as security-compromised, riverine, nomadic and border settlements where these vaccines will be deployed for targeted vaccination. Again, as I mentioned previously, the reason for targeting these areas with the Johnson & Johnson is because of geographical constraints that make it difficult to reach the dwellers with the second dose after the first contact.

 

“Secondly, it removes the additional logistic cost of going to these communities twice. We have developed the necessary protocols to guide the States and ensure compliance with the distribution guideline for the vaccine.

 

“The AstraZeneca vaccine will be used as the second dose for those who received their first dose during the first phase, to ensure they are fully vaccinated.

 

“Consequently, the administration of AstraZeneca Vaccine will commence on the 25th of August and will close on 5th of September. I therefore urge all those who received their first dose prior to July 8th to visit a designated vaccination site from 25th August to 5th September to receive their second dose and become fully protected against COVID-19.  As we receive more supplies, we will then open it up for those who may wish to take their first doses.

 

“You may recall that one of the initiatives we have introduced in this second phase of the vaccination rollout and subsequent phases is the primary health care services integration (PSI), also known as the “whole of family” approach. This means that when you visit a health facility for your COVID-19 vaccination, you will be given health talks to improve your knowledge of the vaccine and vaccination, and if you are 40 years and above, you will have the opportunity to check your blood pressure and be assessed for the risk of diabetes.

 

“Similarly, children aged zero to 12 months will be screened for malnutrition and vaccinated against childhood diseases such as measles, yellow fever, hepatitis and polio. If you need further medical attention, you will be referred to the appropriate hospital for additional analysis and treatment”.

 

The Executive Director urged those aged 18 years and above that have not been vaccinated to visit any vaccination sites to receive their first dose of Moderna vaccine.

 

He also enjoined those who have received their first dose of AstraZeneca  to also proceed to their vaccination sites for their second dose for complete protection.

 

The NPHCDA boss used the forum to advise Nigerians to continue to observe COVID-19 protocols even after vaccination for the county to achieve herd immunity.

 

He further congratulated Nigerians as it reaches one year of being certified wild polio virus free on August 25th.