The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC has said that by February, Nigeria would have vaccinated between 40 to 50% of its eligible population.
Speaking to editors on Friday evening, the new Director-General, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa said the figure includes vaccines from COVAX, African Union, donations and those purchased by the country. The DG said there would soon be enforcement of vaccine mandate, as there is no shortage of it, while appealing to Nigerias to come out for vaccination, to avoid expiry of the ones at hand.
Dr Adetifa said vaccine hesitancy is not peculiar to Nigeria. It is global, he said but assured that NCDC is engaging with a cross sections of groups-including religious bodies, traditional institutions and Civil Society Organisations for sensitisation especially as the yuletide season when people travel and gather for celebration, is in view.
The DG decried the travel ban on Nigeria by some countries and said is unnecessary and not based on science.
On the new variant, Omicron which three have been discovered in Nigeria, the DG advised Nigerians not to let down their guards because of its high transmissibility, and added that young people between the age of 19 to 35 are more susceptible to it.