Over 8,000 Nigerians have received their first doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine over a week after the country kickstarted its vaccination campaign.
The campaign started on March 5, 2021, after Nigeria received nearly four million doses of the vaccine to contain the disease that has infected over 160,000 people in Nigeria since February 2020, Pulse reports.
The Director-General of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, said on Monday, March 15 that the government is fully committed to a safe and successful vaccination program.
“Of course, mild side effects such as pain and swelling at the site of the vaccination, are expected.
“This is normal with any vaccination, and we are working closely with NAFDAC to monitor any unusual adverse reactions,” he said.
The Director-General dispelled fears surrounding the AstraZeneca vaccine after at least 17 countries around the world suspended its deployment following serious cases of blood clots among vaccinated people.
