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Tag: vaccine

  • Facebook to label all posts about COVID-19 vaccines

    Facebook to label all posts about COVID-19 vaccines

    Facebook Inc, on Monday said it had started adding labels to posts that discussed the safety of the shots and would soon label all posts about the vaccines.

    The social media company, which has been criticised by lawmakers and researchers for allowing vaccine misinformation to spread on its platforms, said in a blog post that measures were now in place to check that.

    It also said it was launching a tool in the U.S. to give people information about where to get COVID-19 vaccines and adding a COVID-19 information area to Instagram, its photo-sharing site.

    False claims and conspiracies about the COVID-19 vaccines have proliferated on social media platforms during the pandemic.

    Facebook and Instagram, which recently tightened their policies after long taking a hands-off approach to vaccine misinformation, remain home to large accounts, pages and groups that promote false claims about the shots and can be easily found through keyword searches.

    Facebook’s Chief Product Officer, Chris Cox, said in an interview that the company had taken viral false claims “very seriously” but said there was “a huge gray area of people who had concerns.

    “The best thing to do in that huge gray area is just to show up with authoritative information in a helpful way, be a part of the conversation and do it with health experts,” Cox added.

    The company said it was labelling Facebook and Instagram posts that discussed the safety of COVID-19 vaccines with text, saying the vaccines went through safety and effectiveness tests before approval.

    In the blog post, it also said since expanding its list of banned false claims about the coronavirus and vaccines in February, it had removed an additional 2 million pieces of content from Facebook and Instagram.

    Facebook said it had also implemented temporary measures including reducing the reach of content from users who repeatedly shared content marked false by fact-checkers.

  • Ireland recommends suspending use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

    Ireland recommends suspending use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

    The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine taskforce of Ireland has recommended the temporary suspension of the use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

    The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) made the recommendation on Sunday, following reports of blood clots in adults who received the shot.

    “The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) has recommended that the administration of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca be temporarily deferred from this morning,” Ireland’s deputy chief medical officer Ronan Glynn said in a statement.

    He said the recommendation has been made “on the precautionary principal” after “a report from the Norwegian Medicines Agency of four new reports of serious blood clotting events in adults after vaccination”.

  • Gov Okowa advices Deltans after receiving COVID-19 vaccine

    Gov Okowa advices Deltans after receiving COVID-19 vaccine

    Delta Government on Friday commenced the vaccination of its citizens against COVID-19, with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, his wife, Edith and members of the state’s Executive Council taking their turns.

    The Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Patience Elumeze and health workers were also vaccinated in the exercise which was held at the Executive Council Chamber, Government House, Asaba.

    Speaking after he was vaccinated, Okowa said that the vaccine was approved by World Health Organisation (WHO) and National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and encouraged the people to take it.

    He assured the people of the safety of the vaccine, adding that more doses would be delivered to the state in April and more in later months.

    Okowa stated that the more people were vaccinated, the more the immune system of the people would be boosted.

    He said that the effect of COVID-19 had been very disastrous to the health and economy of the nation, but expressed happiness on the arrival of the vaccines.

    “I am glad that we have finally commenced the vaccination of our people with vaccines approved by WHO and NAFDAC and I want to encourage our people to take it because the vaccines are safe.

    “Personally as Governor of Delta, I have received my own shot as well as my dear wife, the honourable Speaker of the State House of Assembly and members of the State Executive Council.

    “Yesterday night I was in a virtual meeting with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and the Director General of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and we discussed at length issues surrounding the vaccines and I can assure you that measures have been put in place to address these concerns.

    “We want to reassure our people that the vaccine is safe and that they should ignore the various social media reports.

    “There is no doubt that in every drug and vaccine it is possible to have side effects; it is something that is common, but particularly about this Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine has been approved by WHO and NAFDAC.

    “It has been applied in so many countries with over a 100 million doses of the AstraZeneca administered worldwide.

    “This particular vaccine was found to be much better for us as a nation because of the storage possibilities in Nigeria and I am aware we have such cold-chain facilities across the nation. It’s important that we encourage our people to take it because it’s safe,” Okowa stated.

    Earlier at the official roll out of the COVID-19 vaccination at the Asaba Specialist Hospital, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Mordi Ononye, thanked health workers who had worked tirelessly to ensure that Deltans were treated appropriately.

    He said since the state’s index case was recorded on April 7, 2020, Delta had had 2,867 cases of COVID-19 with over 69 deaths and several recoveries.

    “Two days ago, we received from the Federal Government 85,700 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as a first supply for the first dose to be given to persons to be categorised as front line workers, strategic leaders and others.

    “The vaccine improves the level of immunity of the individual and even when a person is infected, the severity is much more less,” Ononye added.

    Chairman, Delta State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Isioma Okobah, said the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine was a great scientific achievement for the state and Nigeria having witnessed the devastating effect of the pandemic on the citizens.

    She called for equitable distribution of the vaccines to all local government areas.

    “COVID-19 is a devastating pandemic which has taken a toll on human lives and the global economy and we are glad that the vaccine remains a powerful tool to bring the pandemic under control,” Okobah said.

    The WHO Coordinator in the state, Dr Onyinye Emefiene, commended Delta Government for prioritising response to COVID-19 and pledged the support of the organization and other development partners.

  • Delta State receives 85,700 doses of COVID-19 vaccine from FG

    Delta State receives 85,700 doses of COVID-19 vaccine from FG

    Delta State Government (DTSG), on Wednesday evening, received its share of 85,700 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from the federal government.

    The Allied Air E-Cargo aircraft marked 5N-RKT which brought the vaccine touched down at the Asaba International Airport at precisely 7.02pm where the pilot of the aircraft, Adebayo Emmanuel, subsequently handed over the way bill (documentation pertaining to the vaccine) to the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mordi Ononye when he (the pilot) alighted from the flight.

    Speaking in an interview with journalists at the airport, Dr. Ononye said that the receipt of the vaccine was unique and symbolic as it would herald the commencement of a statewide vaccination exercise against COVID-19.

    He disclosed that the state Ministry of Health had perfected arrangement for effective and efficient statewide vaccination, reiterating that the delivery of the vaccine to the state marks the take-off of the vaccination exercise.

    The Commissioner added that the exercise would be flagged off on Friday, March 12, 2021 at the Asaba Specialist Hospital where the state governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa is expected to be vaccinated.

    According to him, the vaccination exercise would be staggered beginning with health workers especially those at the treatment centres and other health workers.

    Dr. Ononye noted that the vaccine was very effective in protecting people from contracting COVID-19, even as he urged residents of the state to come out and take the vaccine with a view to promoting their health and strengthening their immunity against COVID-19.

    While urging the press to help in creating the desired awareness about the vaccine, he harped on the need for residents of the state to continue to observe the non-pharmaceutical protocols put in place by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

    “Today (Wednesday evening), we received 85,700 doses of COVID-19 vaccine and this marks the beginning of a statewide vaccination exercise. Arrangement has been perfected for effective and efficient statewide vaccination exercise against COVID-19.

    “The delivery of this vaccine marks the take off of vaccination exercise. The vaccination is to be staggered. We are beginning with health workers especially those at the treatment centres and other health workers.

    “Those are the first set of people that we will give (vaccinate). Thereafter, others will be vaccinated but first of all, the frontline workers and other health care workers will be vaccinated.

    “The vaccination will be flagged off on Friday, March 12, 2021 at the Asaba Specialist Hospital where the governor is expected to be vaccinated.

    “People should come out and take the vaccine to promote their health and strenghten their immunity against COVID-19. They should not afraid as there is no cause for alarm.

    “The vaccine we have received is 85,700 doses. Of course, that is a small fraction but in the very near future, we will be receiving more consignments of the vaccine to be able to cover more of the population,” the Commissioner said.

  • Lagos State takes delivery of COVID-19 vaccines from FG

    Lagos State takes delivery of COVID-19 vaccines from FG

    Lagos State has received doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from the Federal Government.

    This was disclosed on Tuesday by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu while speaking at the 2021 International Women’s Day celebration organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation held at Police College, Ikeja.

    Governor Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the State Government received the vaccines at 4am on Tuesday, noting that the vaccines have been kept in a safe place.

    He assured Lagosians that the State government will soon commence the vaccinations in line with the scheduled guidelines laid down by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

    Governor Sanwo-Olu also implored Lagosians to continue to keep to all the COVID-19 protocols like wearing of facemasks, washing and sanitising their hands and observing social distance.

    Recall that last week, Nigeria took delivery of about four million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines as part of an overall 16 million doses planned to be delivered to the country in batches over the next few months.

    The vaccines were provided by COVAX, in an unprecedented global effort to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

    President Muhammadu Buhari and his vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday received shots of the COVID-19 vaccines at the State House, Abuja, and since then other eminent Nigerians have also received it.

  • BREAKING: FG announces partnership for local production of COVID-19 vaccine

    BREAKING: FG announces partnership for local production of COVID-19 vaccine

    The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has assured that the Federal Government will partner the Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, on the production of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine.

    The Minister gave the assurance while receiving in audience, the Vice Chancellor of Nile University of Nigeria, Prof. Osman Aras in his office on Monday, in Abuja.

    The minister commended the university for working in collaboration with other research institutions in the country to come up with a COVID-19 vaccine.

    Onu said that his ministry was interested in moving the economy away from commodities to knowledge based in line with the main thrust of President Muhammed Buhari”s administration.

    He said the ministry was working assiduously to bring all research institutions and universities to a round table interaction which shall help build a knowledge economy.

    “We have the human capital to do it, and this is where the university system is of critical importance,” he said.

    Onu was positive that university system would help in developing human capital needed to transform the abundant human resources into products and services.

    He disclosed that three agencies of the ministry led by National Bio-technology development Agency (NABDA), were involved in research towards the production of COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria.

    Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the University said he was in the ministry to partner in the area of production of COVID-19 vaccine.

    He also said university was also willing to look into vaccine production for other related diseases which would help alleviate the lingering problems of human health.

  • SGF, ministers, PTF members receive COVID-19 vaccines today

    SGF, ministers, PTF members receive COVID-19 vaccines today

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the Chairman Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha and members of the PTF will on Monday in Abuja receive doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines.

    The Director Press, Office of the SGF (OSGF), Mr. Willie Bassey, said this in a notice on Sunday.

    The development was coming on the heels of the duo of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who received their doses of the vaccine, live, on Saturday at the Presidential Villa.

    The SGF and the PTF members would received theirs on Monday after it got a clearance from the Executive Director National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib.

    Bassey said that the vaccination would be held at the OSGF during the weekly live joint national briefing of the taskforce.

    This means that the PTF regular members, including the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed; Minister of Environment, Muhammad Mahmood; Minister of State for Health, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora; Director General, Nigeria Centre Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu; and the National Incident Manager (NIM) PTF, Dr. Mukhtar Muhammad among others were expected to join Mustapha to receive jabs of the vaccines that first arrived in the country last Tuesday.

    The Nigerian Government began the vaccine roll out at the National Hospital, Abuja last Friday with frontine health workers and support staff.

  • COVID-19: Vaccination wasn’t painful, I didn’t feel a pinch-Osinbajo

    COVID-19: Vaccination wasn’t painful, I didn’t feel a pinch-Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday alongside President Muhammadu Buhari, got vaccinated with the Astra-Zeneca Covid-19 vaccine at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The President and his Deputy got the vaccine following the launch of the vaccination exercise in the country with front line health workers.

    According to tweets by the VP’s Spokesperson, Mr. Laolu Akande, Osinbajo was given the vaccination by Dr. Nicholas, his personal physician.

    Akande tweeted, “Mr. President and his deputy, VP Osinbajo just got vaccinated with the Astra-Zeneca Covid-19 vaccine at the Presidential Villa following the launch of the vaccination exercise yesterday with frontline health workers. We should all take turns when time comes to get the happy jabs!

    “Why did I say happy jabs? Well first & foremost it’s the beginning of the ending of this yearlong pandemic or so we hope. And secondly, VP says right after the jab by Dr. Nic, his Personal Physician “the thing was not painful at all. I didn’t even feel the pinch.” That’s Happy!”

    TheNewsGuru recalls that health workers at the National Hospital in Abuja were the first to receive the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines in Nigeria, with a medical doctor, Cyprian Ngong, becoming the first person to receive a jab, alongside three other health workers during the flag-off event in Abuja.

  • Rwanda becomes first African nation to use Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

    Rwanda becomes first African nation to use Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

    Rwanda began its COVID-19 vaccine campaign on Friday, becoming the first nation in Africa to use pharmaceutical company Pfizer’s doses that require ultra-cold storage.

    Authorities began transporting Pfizer and AstraZeneca shots round the hilly nation of 12 million people after they arrived earlier this week, using helicopters to reach far-flung parts.

    “This means that I will die when God wants because the coronavirus cannot kill me now,” 90-year-old Stephanie Nyirankuriza said, leaning on a walking stick after her shot at a health centre just east of the capital Kigali.

    As in most nations, health workers and the elderly are first in line as President Paul Kagame’s government plans to vaccinate up to 30 per cent of Rwandans by the end of this year.

    The Kagame government, which prides itself on efficiency and technological prowess but is often criticised as authoritarian, has installed special infrastructure to keep the Pfizer vaccine at the required -70 degrees.

    At some centres, people were required to sign consent forms before receiving the shots.

    Sitting in a makeshift tent awaiting her turn, Urusaro Ntoranyi, 70, said she was confident the vaccine was safe.

    “I have children who got COVID-19,” she added, saying that they survived but two other relatives had died.

    Those vaccinated were required to stay for about 15 minutes in case of side effects.

    “This is like lengthening my life span,” 69-year-old Sisiyani Rusenyanteko, a community health worker and father-of-nine, exulted after an AstraZeneca shot.
    Rwanda has so far received 102,960 and 240,000 doses of Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines respectively via the global COVAX facility.

    Rwanda’s Health Minister Daniel Ngamije said he expected to get more but did not say from where.

    “The turnout is good,” he said, shortly after receiving his Pfizer shot, adding the doses had been distributed to over 500 health facilities countrywide.

    Rwanda has reported just more than 19,000 cases and 265 deaths.

  • See first person to receive COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria [PHOTOS]

    See first person to receive COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria [PHOTOS]

    The first dose of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine was administered for the first time in Nigeria to a frontline medical doctor on Friday in Abuja, the federal capital territory (FCT).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the COVID-19 vaccine was administered to the frontline medical doctor at the National Hospital, Abuja.

    Dr Ngong Cyprian, who has been working at the COVID-19 isolation centre at the National Hospital, Abuja since March 2020, is the first person in Nigeria to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

    https://twitter.com/tngbreaking/status/1367779672986181634?s=19

    Other health care workers that joined Dr Ngong to first receive the AstraZeneca vaccine in Nigeria are Nurse Faith E. Eragbai, Dr. Nuru Joseph and Dr. Thairu Yunusa.

    See photos below:

     

    TNG reports Nigeria started the COVID-19 vaccination after the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines passed assessment by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDC).

    While Dr Ngong is a Family Physician at the National Hospital, Abuja, Dr Yunusa is a Pathologist with the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital.

    Ngon had been the Head of the COVID-19 Isolation Centre at National Hospital Abuja since February 2020 when the virus was first detected in Nigeria.

    The third person to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, Dr Samudeen is the National Hospital Abuja Family Physician at the Accident and Emergency unit.

    With today’s occasion, Nigeria is now set to go ahead and use the 3.924 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine which arrived the country on March 2 through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    Meanwhile, the Federal Government had launched a website where Nigerians could log on and register for the vaccination.

    Government, therefore, advised citizens to log on to the website on NPHCDC website.

    The healthcare development agency said that “to register for the COVID-19 vaccination, visit our website — nphcda.gov.ng — and click on ‘COVID-19 vaccination e-registration.”