The Lagos State Government has suspended its vaccination programme and shut down all its COVID-19 vaccination centres as the state completes the first phase of the exercise.
The state’s Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said in a statement on Thursday.
The suspension is in line with the directive of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) for states to suspend vaccination once half of their current supply has been administered.
The NPHCDA’s directive is to ensure that those who received the first dose will have an opportunity for the second dose, as uncertainties remain over Nigeria’s ability to get more doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine after receiving 3.92 million doses in March.
“Lagos State has concluded the first half of phase one #COVID19 vaccination campaign – in line with the directive of @NphcdaNG. The exercise began on March 12,” Abayomi said in the satatement.
“The conclusion of the first phase, which took an average of 20 days, followed the Federal Government’s directive to stop vaccination once half of the consignment has been administered so that those who received the first dose will have an opportunity for the second dose.
“This will ensure that at least 1% of Lagos residents receive the full complement of doses required to enable the protection the vaccine promises. The target to achieve effective herd immunity is vaccination of at least 60% of the Lagos State population.”
Abayomi continued that the state had vaccinated 257,756 people at the suspension of the programme consisting of health workers, frontline workers including; security agents, ports of entry staff, Judiciary, petrol station workers, contingency workers and strategic leaders.
Also vaccinated within the period include willing pensioners, people aged 70 and above, teachers and journalists.
Abayomi said the remaining doses of the total 507,000 received by Lagos have been reserved at the state’s Cold Chain Store for the second dose exercise.
Those who have been vaccinated can start receiving their second doses from May 28, in line with the manufacturer’s proposed 8-12 weeks interval between doses.
“Residents are encouraged to check their vaccination cards for their next appointment dates and where possible to try to go to the same health facilities where they got their initial dose for their second dose,” he said.
The commissioner said those who already received their first doses don’t need to pre-register before going to receive the second doses.
