The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has debunked a viral text message claiming the US Supreme Court “overturned universal vaccination”.
According to the Executive Director, NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib, “there is no record of such a case, and there is no such thing as “universal vaccination” in the US. So, this is another case of “Fake News””.
Shuaib stated that Nigeria and the rest of the world needed to end the pandemic, recover from its economic adversities and return to normalcy.
“However, getting this would be difficult if we do not face the issues of misinformation and disinformation squarely,” he added.
“As a rule of thumb, we endeavour not to join issues with individuals who would rather concoct misinformation that could negatively affect the health of citizens.
“This is because even acknowledging some of these falsehoods elevates and adds fuel to a raging flame that benefits only the perpetrator.
“Nevertheless, we are constrained by the volume of specific enquiries about a viral text message which purports that the US Supreme Court has cancelled universal vaccination.
“Let’s set the record straight and once again punch holes in the malicious intentions of anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists: The US Supreme Court has not “overturned universal vaccination” there is no record of such a case, and there is no such thing as “universal vaccination” in the US. So, this is another case of “Fake News”,” he explained.
The Agency also disclosed that so far, 2,897,201 eligible persons had taken the COVID-19 jab across the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The NPHCDA boss disclosed that the UK government had generously donated an additional 592,880 doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, which was received on Aug. 26, 2021, through the COVAX Facility.
“The total quantity of vaccines donated by the UK Government stands at 1,292,640 doses. The additional doses would be included in the second dose vaccination exercise currently ongoing for clients, who have already taken the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the first phase.
“I, therefore, use this opportunity to once again call on those who received the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine before July 8, 2021, to go and get their second dose, to be fully protected against all strains of the coronavirus,” he added.
