President Muhammadu Buhari received a booster dose of Pfizer Biontech vaccine at the State House in Abuja yesterday, in addition to the two jabs he received earlier this year.
The booster shot was given to the President by his Chief Personal Physician, Dr. Suhayb Rafindadi, after which the Director-General of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, signed his vaccination card.
Shuaib explained the significance of President Buhari receiving his booster vaccine shot, saying that the president was setting an example by being one of the first to receive it, while also sending a message to Nigerians that the vaccines are safe and effective.
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He, on the other hand, urged Nigerians who are still hesitant to get vaccines to do so, noting that more than eight million Nigerians have been successfully vaccinated.
However, the NPHCDA director stated that recent developments have revealed that COVID-19 is quickly becoming a disease of the unvaccinated, and that the country has enough vaccines to cover all eligible Nigerians.
“The significance of this morning’s shot is that the father of the nation is leading by example, as usual, by being among the first people to receive the Pfizer Biontech vaccine booster dose,” he said. Again, to demonstrate to all Nigerians that it is safe, effective, and that now that over eight million Nigerians have been vaccinated, this vaccine is safe, and it is a clarion call to all Nigerians to make themselves available to receive the vaccine.
“The proof is in the pudding; over 8 million Nigerians have safely received vaccines.” They’re fine; they’re going about their daily routines, and the data shows that COVID-19 is now primarily a disease of the unvaccinated.
“Data shows that eight out of every ten people who have died have not been vaccinated. So, if you’re not vaccinated, you’re more likely to die from COVID-19.”
“What Mr. President has done today is once again to indicate to all Nigerians that the federal government is doing everything possible to ensure that only safe and effective vaccines are brought into Nigeria, and that when they are brought into Nigeria, we’ll double-check to ensure that they meet the very high standards set by NAFDAC,” he continued.
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“So, whenever you go to a health facility or a mass vaccination site, keep in mind that the vaccine that is going into your body is safe and will protect you from severe forms of COVID-19.” It will also keep you from succumbing to COVID-19. That is the guarantee we are providing to Nigerians.
“The other thing we’re telling Nigerians is that when you get the vaccine, you might get some pain at the injection site, you might get a little fever, you might get a little body pain, but these are all signs that the vaccine is working,” he says. These are minor symptoms in comparison to the ones you’ll experience if you contract COVID-19.
“This is part of the technology that makes your body raise armies that will now defeat the actual virus, despite the fact that it pretends to be COVID-19.”
“So, please don’t hesitate, don’t have any doubts.” It is a matter of integrity for us to do the right thing, and we are demonstrating that these vaccines are exactly what we need to protect our health and then begin to rebuild our economy, thanks to the leadership of Mr. President, the governors, and the legislators who have come out openly to take these vaccines.”
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The DG explained the procedure for receiving the jab, noting that the booster shot gives a better chance against the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
“To get the booster shot, all you have to do is go to the nearest health facility or any vaccination center with your vaccination card and you will get the booster shots,” he says. As a result, you won’t have to travel far to get your booster doses, whether you live or work.
“For example, if you received the first and second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, you must wait six months after the second dose to receive your Pfizer Biontech vaccine. If you have received the Moderna vaccine, you must wait six months before receiving the second dose or booster dose. So, after receiving the first dose of Moderna, you will receive the second dose after four weeks, and after six months, you will be eligible for the booster.
“After two months, if you received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine as a single shot vaccine, you are eligible for a booster.” So, these are the protocols that we’ve laid out, and we’re encouraging Nigerians to get vaccinated with the booster shots because research shows that getting the booster shot provides better protection against the Omicron variant. We are all aware that the Omicron variance is being transmitted globally, especially now that people are traveling for the holidays.
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“So, this is an opportunity for you to go to the nearest health facility or the nearest mass vaccination site; we now have mass vaccination sites in markets, shopping malls, densely populated areas, in some estates, and at work.” You can get vaccinated at any of these locations.”
