The Nigerian Government on Monday received 2 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine donated by the European Union.
The Executive Director, NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib, said that the consignment was received on Monday from the EU Ambassador, Samuela Isopi, at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), National Strategic Cold Store, Abuja.
He added that the EU envoy said that the donation was part of the EU’s commitment to jointly combat the pandemic.
Speaking at the event, Dr Shuaib noted the Nigerian Government is also combating the pandemic and that it has procured over 39 million doses of the J&J vaccine, through Afreximbank.
He disclosed that about 12 million doses of this single-shot vaccine are currently in the cold store.
Local media reports quoted Dr. Shuaib as saying that the Nigerian Government in August 2021 took delivery of 177,600 Johnson & Johnson vaccines in Abuja and that it marked the first wave of arrivals of COVID-19 vaccines procured through the African Union.
He also said that in September 2021, additional 1,123,200 doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine were received.
Shuaib explained that the shipments were received as part of the 39,800,000 doses procured by the Nigerian Government.
He said the single-shot J&J vaccine was received through the African Vaccine Acquisition Team (AVAT) of the African Union, a facility provided by Afreximbank.
GIK/APA