By Idu Jude
Any state without the recommended cold chain facility to preserve the AstraZeneca Covid 19 vaccine may lose possible deployment of the first phase of the 400 million vaccines imported to Nigeria early this week.

The Executive Director Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), disclosed this at a media briefing at the state house Thursday in readiness for the deployment of the vaccines to various states across the country.

From the look of things, the out boast of the executive director of the NPHCDA, indicates that some state by now are not ready to receive the vaccine according to the standard recommendation.

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ThisNigeria, can recall in one of its reports that the lack of preparedness to the cold chain and preservation of the reports may hamper the efficacy of these drugs.

“We will not be sending vaccines to the states that have not fulfilled all of the criteria that will ensure that if the vaccines get to the states, they are going to be safe,” he said.

Shuaib said it is necessary for security to be strengthened around where the vaccines are stored.

“For example: we have communicated to the states that they have to wrap up their security around their cold stores because these are very valuable vaccines and we do not want a situation where vaccines are taken to the states and criminal elements take advantage to vandalize these cold stores,” he added.

Nigeria received its first batch of 3.9 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine on Tuesday.

According to NPHCDA, over two million Nigerians have already registered to be vaccinated.