Pilgrims to get priority for vaccination, says FG

By, Moses Emorinken, Abuja

Pilgrims will be prioritised in the first phase of COVID-19 vaccination across the country, the Federal Government stated on Thursday.

It explained even though States have been directed to stop vaccination once they reach 50 percent of their vaccination targets, priorities will be given to pilgrims as it is a requirement for their pilgrimage.

The National Supervisor for COVID-19 vaccination in Adamawa State, NPHCDA, Muhammad Isawa, made these known in Yola during a media dialogue organised by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on routine immunisation and COVID-19 vaccination.

He said: “Across the country, any state that has reached the 50 percent mark of the covid-19 vaccine intake, we have told them to stop vaccinating.

“We have only given priority to specific groups, that is, people going on pilgrimage because we know that if they don’t receive the vaccine, they may not be allowed to go for pilgrimage, or they may have to be given the vaccination there.

“And if they give them a particular vaccine that we don’t have in Nigeria, it might really be a challenge for them when they come back to Nigeria.

“We are considering the Christian and Muslim pilgrims. If you are a pilgrim man and you want to go for your pilgrimage, you will receive the vaccine in Nigeria because they are a group now that we have prioritised to get the vaccines for this first phase.”