NATIONAL Coordinator, Presidential Task Force, PTF, on COVID-19, Dr. Sani Aliyu, on Wednesday has revealed that Nigerians will get the COVID-19 vaccine free of charge.
Sani made the announcement during an appearance on Channel Television today where he said there is an assurance that over 40 million Nigerians will be vaccinated through the GAVI arrangement (a vaccine alliance created to ensure that any new COVID-19 vaccine would be shared equally between the world’s richest and poorest countries).
Sani Aliyu said;
“Yesterday, the president gave the PTF the mandate to proceed with preparations with regard to the vaccine.
“The president has also given us a marching order that the COVID-19 vaccine be available in Nigeria.
“Making use of the GAVI arrangement, we already have assurance that 20 percent of our population will be accommodated by GAVI in the vaccine.
“We don’t need to pay for that and this will cover 40 million Nigerians or so. But we have to pay for the operations and the logistics associated with it.”
When asked if the vaccine would be administered free, Aliyu said, “of course, of course”.
He went further to urge Nigerians not to discard safety measures already in place just because there’s a vaccine.
According to Aliyu, a provision would be made to ensure that primary healthcare facilities that are situated in the secretariats of each of the 774 local governments areas of Nigeria for the distribution of the vaccine. He further revealed the primary healthcare facilities will be updated to take control and preserve the vaccine which requires cold temperature.