Abuja doctor becomes first Nigerian health worker to get COVID-19 vaccine

A medical doctor Dr. Cyprian Nyong of the National Hospital, Abuja on Friday received a jab of the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria.

This followed approval for commencement of vaccination by federal authorities.

Executive director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency Dr Faisal Shuaib described the moment as a “watershed”.

Minister of health Osagie Ehanire also said it was crucial “to first cater for those who cater for us”.

Nigeria had on Tuesday received about four million doses of AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine shipped into the country through the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo will on Saturday receive the COVID-19 vaccine publicly.

In other news, a Nigerian-born researcher and medical doctor, Onyema Ogbuagbu has been celebrated by the US embassy in Nigeria for his role in the development of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Recall that Pfizer and BioNTech had announced that the first vaccine they developed against COVID-19 could prevent more than 90 percent of people from getting infected.