By our reporter| Nigeria on Friday commenced its COVID-19 vaccination with a medical doctor, Dr. Cyprian Igong, of the National Hospital, Abuja, became the first Nigerian to receive a jab of the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine.
Dr. Igong has been a frontline health worker since March 2020 – days after the first case of the disease was reported in the country.
The exercise was flagged off on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari by the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.
Nigeria’s health minister, Osagie Ehanire, who witnessed the exercise, said it was crucial “to first cater for those who cater for us”.
Dr. Ngong, shortly after receiving his shot, said he wished his father took the vaccine as he died of the lethal virus.
“We’ve been at the forefront here in National Hospital at the Isolation Centre under the able leadership of the National Hospital. They’ve provided everything we need for this fight. We’ve lost some, we’ve got some and we are happy we are getting the vaccines now in Nigeria. That is about the best news we’ve heard since. I only wished my dad had had this vaccine may be months ago or so. We lost him but we thank God and the fight is still on and we will win,” he said.
Nigeria received about four million doses of AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday.
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