TheCable

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) says it is looking into setting up mass vaccination sites at shopping malls, markets, sports centres and academic institutions.

Faisal Shuaib, executive director of the NPHCDA, disclosed this on Thursday at a media briefing in Abuja.

The development comes days after the federal government announced plans to commence ‘Sunday vaccination’ in churches, as part of efforts to improve access to COVID vaccines.

Speaking at the briefing, Shuaib said the NPHCDA will collaborate with state governments, religious leaders, management of academic institutions, among others, to drive mass vaccination.

“In line with the NPHCDA commitment to ramp up COVID-19 vaccine uptake, the agency has put in place plans for the establishment of mass vaccination sites across the country,” he said.

“The objective of this strategy is to vaccinate a high volume of individuals through large sites such as federal institutions (universities, polytechnics), shopping malls, religious centres, sporting events, conference centres, and markets.

“This will require strong collaboration between NPHCDA, state governments, religious bodies, school authorities and governing bodies of malls and large sporting events.

“As we expand the vaccination sites, we encourage all eligible Nigerians to avail themselves for vaccination.

“I am also glad to inform you that we have commenced the process of decentralising COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria, to include private health care providers. This is to expand access and increase utilisation of the vaccines.”

He also warned against acquiring fake COVID vaccination cards, adding that the federal government is “working with relevant security agencies to make examples of these individuals who may wish to buy or sell the cards by naming and shaming them”.

“We are also enhancing the security features of our vaccination cards in order to limit forgeries,” he added.