Vaccine: Kogi has no cold-chain store, left out of distribution

The Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine has been delivered to 35 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, except Kogi State.

Kogi was left out by the NPHCDA as it delivers COVID-19 vaccine due to the lack of cold-chain store and governor Yahaya Bello’s disposition that COVID-19 does not exist in Kogi State.

The Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Faisal Shuaib, on Thursday told members of the National Economic Council in Abuja.

He said there was no arrangement for Kogi State to be distributed with the vaccine.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, in a statement said the NPHCDA gave the update while briefing a virtual meeting of NEC presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

The Council which is chaired by Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo has all State governors, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and some relevant ministers as members.

Akande’s statement was titled “FG agency to NEC: COVID-19 vaccine delivered to 35 states, FCT.”

The statement quoted the NPHCDA boss as saying “all states, except Kogi, have received their vaccines.

“Kogi State is yet to receive due to the non-repair of its Cold-Chain Store coupled with the state’s concerns around the contradictory information about the vaccines.

“The vaccination application has been launched in most states’ Treatment Centres even against distractions and criticism of the FG’s efforts to ensure availability of vaccines in the nation.

“The roll-out of the vaccines across healthcare front-line workers and other health support staff was scheduled to commence by March 15, 2021, in some states, with the intention of wider coverage after the training of the states’ health workers across board.”

According to him, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has been co-opted into the distribution to ensure accountability and safe-keeping of the vaccine.

“There was a need for tight security around the vaccine in the states to avoid being vandalised by hoodlums.

“Meanwhile, there was a plan to commence weekly record of a dashboard showing level and efficacy of the inoculation by the end of Monday, March 15, 2021.”

Dr. Shuaib said the tranche of the vaccine would arrive before the second intake is concluded.