FG postpones COVID-19 vaccination

The federal government has postponed the second phase of the national vaccination programme.

The second phase was scheduled to kickstart on Tuesday after the US donated over four million doses of the Moderna vaccine.

However, the government, in a statement on Sunday, by a spokesperson in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey, informed that the start of the exercise had been moved due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’.

The statement continued, “A new date will be communicated, please”.

Only about one percent of the population has been fully vaccinated, so far.

On Sunday, Nigeria recorded 471 new cases of the novel coronavirus as resident doctors across the country continue to strike over unpaid benefits.

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the new cases were reported on Sunday from 13 states.

Nigeria has recently seen an uptick in new cases of COVID-19 as fears of a third wave continues to loom.

To prepare for the surge in new cases, the government has advised Nigerians to adhere to health protocols such as wearing of masks and social distancing, especially in indoor settings.