By Zayamu Hassan
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), has revealed that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine has 88 percent effectiveness against the Delta Variant of COVID-19.
Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib disclosed this at a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine that is being use in Nigeria is going to be, at least, 88 percent effective against the Delta variant.
“So far, what the studies have shown is that the Delta variant has very minimal vaccine properties against the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. So, we are in a good place in terms of effectiveness of the vaccine that is used against the Delta Variant,” Dr Shuaib said.
The NPHCDA executive director, however, cautioned that it does not mean that people who have taken two doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine can go town without observing the COVID-19 protocols.
He said: “We still need those non pharmaceutical measures of using face masks, washing hands and maintaining social distancing, to protect ourselves and our loved ones from the COVID-19.
“Again, we have been very clear about the fact that the evidence that we have is that the vaccine protects against the severe illness, against hospitalization and against mortality.
“Even with the vaccine it is still possible to have a mild form of the disease and it is still possible for one to transmit the virus.
“This is why it is important for us to continue to wear our face mask, observe social distancing and observe more hygiene while we continue to gather more information about the nature of the vaccine that we are using for the very first time.”
Dr. Shuiab, further disclosed that the country will receive 41.2 million dosses of COVID-19 vaccines between the end of this month and September ending.
According to him, 3,924,000 doses of Oxford/AstraZeneca/Moderna will arrive by end of July or early August 2021 from the COVAX facility; 3,930,910 doses of Pfizer-Bio-N Tech/Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in August from the COVAX facility donated by the United States Government.
He added that 3,577,860 doses of Pfizer-Bio-N Tech/Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in Q3 from the COVAX facility and 29,850,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson (Jassen) COVID-19 vaccine by the end of September, that will arrive in batches from the African Union Commission.
