FG Launches Electronic Registration Platform For COVID-19 Vaccination

The Federal Government Monday launched the electronic
registration platform to enable eligible Nigerians get vaccinated
against the deadly covid-19 pandemic.

The T.E.A.C.H strategy, which combines indigenous (traditional)
approaches with modern technologically enabled systems of
vaccination, will leverage experiences gained during the polio
immunization programs.

Recall that Nigeria is set to receive its first batch of 3.92
million doses of the AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine on Tuesday,
according to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency
(NPHCDA).

The Executive Director/CEO of the NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib,
during the official launch of the T.E.A.C.H strategy for covid-19
vaccination of eligible Nigerians and Electronic Management of
Immunization Data (EMID) in Abuja, emphasised that the vaccination
process will be in four phases; frontline health workers being the
priority group of eligible populations to receive the first doses
of vaccines arriving the country.

He further noted that strategic leaders like the President, Vice
President, Ministers, Governors and Religious and Traditional
Leaders will be among those to receive the first doses of the
vaccines, in order to show to the public that the vaccines are safe
and effective as validated by the National Agency for Food and Drug
Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

He said, “In phase one, healthcare workers, frontline workers,
ports of entry (air, land, and sea ports), Military, covid-19 rapid
response team (RRT), laboratory network, policemen, and petrol
station workers and Strategic leaders, will be vaccinated first.
Frontline workers include support staff such as cleaners, security
staff, body handlers, drivers, waste managers, oil & gas workers,
bankers etc.

“Next is the phase two, which will comprise older adults aged 50
years and above, and those with comorbidities aged 18 – 49 years of
age. Phase three includes those in states/LGAs with high disease
burden and who missed phases one and two, and phase four includes
other eligible populations as vaccines become available.”

The NPHCDA boss explained that the e-registration process will
make for easy and stress-free registration prior to vaccination. He
noted that once an individual completes registration, a unique
pre-vaccination identifier will be issued via the website – with
which he or she will take to the vaccination site for proper
identification before getting vaccinated.

Noting that while registering, Nigerians can choose a health
facility that is closest to them to get vaccinated, Dr Shuaib
stated that individuals can assess the e-registration portal via
the Agency’s website – https://nphcdaict.com.ng/publicreg^[1].

In his remarks, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire,
said: “T.E.A.C.H. is an acronym for a 5-point strategy developed by
the vaccination implementing arm of the Federal Ministry of Health,
the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPCDA), out of
its many years of vaccination Implementation experience in Nigeria,
and it translates as: T: Traditional Vaccination Campaign Approach;
E: Electronic Self-Registration by Eligible Nigerians; A: Assisted
Electronic Registration of Eligible Nigerians; C: Concomitant
Vaccination alongside Electronic Registration and H: House-to-House
Electronic Registration.

“In less than 24 hours, the first batch of AstraZeneca vaccines
will arrive in Nigeria from the COVAX Facility and will be deployed
to vaccinate, first our critical frontline health care workers, who
are providing essential care especially for severe COVID-19
patients, next to those who are highest risk of severe disease from
Covid-19 infection and down to 70 percent of Nigerians.

“The World Health Organization has advised all countries to
limit vaccination for now to persons above 18 years, until research
and studies are completed on any possible effect on growing
children or 18 years and below, except they have severe underlying
illnesses where the benefits justify the risk.

“All countries are following this guideline and other global
guidelines, as Nigeria will too. This is made more important by the
fact that the target population for this vaccination, as we must
remember, is not the usual cohort of children that Nigeria is used
to, but this time, adults.

“I urge all eligible Nigerians to take the COVID-19 vaccination
when it is their turn. This is the only way we can achieve herd
immunity to stop the community transmission of this deadly
virus.

“Well before the 4 million doses of AstraZeneca we are going to
receive is expended, we shall be receiving more vaccines, so there
should be no need for anxiety. We shall also be receiving other
types of vaccines and all these will ensure that the entire
vaccination administration will be sustained in a smooth way and
will be applied nationwide – leaving no one behind.”

“All questions can be directed to the Ministry of Health and
NPCDA, but this is not a time to work at cross purposes; it is not
a time to be making private arrangements for vaccine procurement
and administration.

“Vaccines that are not approved by NAFDAC will be determined as
dangerous, and will be seized by Customs Services and NAFDAC, who
are on high alert for illegal vaccine importation. Fake vaccines
already abound in the illegal market.”

The Country Representative of the WHO, Walter Kazadi, while
applauding the political will and leadership of the current
administration, stressed that vaccines alone will not win the war
against covid-19.

He therefore urged every Nigerian to comply with the extant
non-pharmaceutical interventions of regular handwashing,
sanitizing, proper use of face masks, avoiding mass gatherings and
practicing social distancing.

The Federal Government Monday launched the electronic
registration platform to enable eligible Nigerians get vaccinated
against the deadly covid-19 pandemic.

The T.E.A.C.H strategy, which combines indigenous (traditional)
approaches with modern technologically enabled systems of
vaccination, will leverage experiences gained during the polio
immunization programs.

Recall that Nigeria is set to receive its first batch of 3.92
million doses of the AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine on Tuesday,
according to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency
(NPHCDA).

The Executive Director/CEO of the NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib,
during the official launch of the T.E.A.C.H strategy for covid-19
vaccination of eligible Nigerians and Electronic Management of
Immunization Data (EMID) in Abuja, emphasised that the vaccination
process will be in four phases; frontline health workers being the
priority group of eligible populations to receive the first doses
of vaccines arriving the country.

He further noted that strategic leaders like the President, Vice
President, Ministers, Governors and Religious and Traditional
Leaders will be among those to receive the first doses of the
vaccines, in order to show to the public that the vaccines are safe
and effective as validated by the National Agency for Food and Drug
Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

He said, “In phase one, healthcare workers, frontline workers,
ports of entry (air, land, and sea ports), Military, covid-19 rapid
response team (RRT), laboratory network, policemen, and petrol
station workers and Strategic leaders, will be vaccinated first.
Frontline workers include support staff such as cleaners, security
staff, body handlers, drivers, waste managers, oil & gas workers,
bankers etc.

“Next is the phase two, which will comprise older adults aged 50
years and above, and those with comorbidities aged 18 – 49 years of
age. Phase three includes those in states/LGAs with high disease
burden and who missed phases one and two, and phase four includes
other eligible populations as vaccines become available.”

The NPHCDA boss explained that the e-registration process will
make for easy and stress-free registration prior to vaccination. He
noted that once an individual completes registration, a unique
pre-vaccination identifier will be issued via the website – with
which he or she will take to the vaccination site for proper
identification before getting vaccinated.

Noting that while registering, Nigerians can choose a health
facility that is closest to them to get vaccinated, Dr Shuaib
stated that individuals can assess the e-registration portal via
the Agency’s website – https://nphcdaict.com.ng/publicreg^[1].

In his remarks, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire,
said: “T.E.A.C.H. is an acronym for a 5-point strategy developed by
the vaccination implementing arm of the Federal Ministry of Health,
the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPCDA), out of
its many years of vaccination Implementation experience in Nigeria,
and it translates as: T: Traditional Vaccination Campaign Approach;
E: Electronic Self-Registration by Eligible Nigerians; A: Assisted
Electronic Registration of Eligible Nigerians; C: Concomitant
Vaccination alongside Electronic Registration and H: House-to-House
Electronic Registration.

“In less than 24 hours, the first batch of AstraZeneca vaccines
will arrive in Nigeria from the COVAX Facility and will be deployed
to vaccinate, first our critical frontline health care workers, who
are providing essential care especially for severe COVID-19
patients, next to those who are highest risk of severe disease from
Covid-19 infection and down to 70 percent of Nigerians.

“The World Health Organization has advised all countries to
limit vaccination for now to persons above 18 years, until research
and studies are completed on any possible effect on growing
children or 18 years and below, except they have severe underlying
illnesses where the benefits justify the risk.

“All countries are following this guideline and other global
guidelines, as Nigeria will too. This is made more important by the
fact that the target population for this vaccination, as we must
remember, is not the usual cohort of children that Nigeria is used
to, but this time, adults.

“I urge all eligible Nigerians to take the COVID-19 vaccination
when it is their turn. This is the only way we can achieve herd
immunity to stop the community transmission of this deadly
virus.

“Well before the 4 million doses of AstraZeneca we are going to
receive is expended, we shall be receiving more vaccines, so there
should be no need for anxiety. We shall also be receiving other
types of vaccines and all these will ensure that the entire
vaccination administration will be sustained in a smooth way and
will be applied nationwide – leaving no one behind.”

“All questions can be directed to the Ministry of Health and
NPCDA, but this is not a time to work at cross purposes; it is not
a time to be making private arrangements for vaccine procurement
and administration.

“Vaccines that are not approved by NAFDAC will be determined as
dangerous, and will be seized by Customs Services and NAFDAC, who
are on high alert for illegal vaccine importation. Fake vaccines
already abound in the illegal market.”

The Country Representative of the WHO, Walter Kazadi, while
applauding the political will and leadership of the current
administration, stressed that vaccines alone will not win the war
against covid-19.

He therefore urged every Nigerian to comply with the extant
non-pharmaceutical interventions of regular handwashing,
sanitizing, proper use of face masks, avoiding mass gatherings and
practicing social distancing.