Niger administers 35,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine – Sani-Bello

The Niger government says it has administered a total of 35,170 doses of COVID-19 vaccine, which represents 47.5 per cent out of the 74,110 it received.

Gov. Abubakar Sani-Bello of Niger disclosed this during a virtual town hall meeting of the North Central States on COVID-19 Vaccination in Nasarawa State on Wednesday.

It was reported that the meeting was organised by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.

“We will not exceed the 50 per cent utilisation of the vaccines as directed by the Federal Government so as to allow for second doses for those who have taken the first dose.

“The state has been able to establish one of the best molecular laboratories in the country, and it is repositioning the health system in the state, particularly, in responding to future pandemics,” he said.

The governor said that though there was initial apathy in receiving the vaccine by the populace, the state government took actions through sensitisation which helped in resolving such doubts.

Sani-Bello disclosed that members of the state executive council, members of the state assembly, religious and traditional leaders, frontline workers and their supporting staff were among those that received the first dose.

He said others who had received the vaccine included security personnel, petrol station attendants among others, adding that efforts are being made to ensure that all eligible persons are vaccinated.

The governor said that since the first COVID-19 case in the state, the government had taken giant strides in combating the pandemic by coming up with a strategic working document.

The Niger Government had also established a task force involving all relevant stakeholders and the passage of executive order, Sani-Bello added.

He commended the organisers of the meeting and the efforts of the Federal Government as well NPHCDA for coordinating the vaccination roll-out.