Sure you’ve heard about MTN’s donation of $25 million towards African Union’s Covid-19 vaccination program. Nigeria will receive the largest volume of the vaccine, with a major share alloted to health workers across the continent. The first set of vaccines are expected to arrive in Nigeria in two weeks.
That been said, here are 7 things you should know about the arrival of the MTN/AU Vaccine in Nigeria:
- Health workers in the country are top priority for receiving the vaccines: Our Doctors and Nurses are the real MVPs, they are at the forefront of the Covid-19 response risking their lives to protect patients. They will be getting the first dose of the vaccine once it arrives.
- The vaccine to be distributed among health workers is the AstraZeneca vaccine:
It was developed in partnership with the University of Oxford and is already being administered across the United Kingdom. The vaccine works by prompting the immune system to start making antibodies and primes it to attack the virus when injected into a patient.
- The vaccine has been verified to be highly effective: There is no cause for alarm, this vaccine is safe. No one given the vaccine at the trial stage developed severe Covid symptoms afterward or required further hospital treatment.
- One-sixth of the allocated vaccine is coming to Nigeria: Nigeria will receive the largest volume of the seven million doses of the vaccine to be distributed. This will help strengthen the fight against Covid-19 in Nigeria.
- Vaccine donation is one of the most impactful healthcare interventions in Nigeria: Vaccines help to reduce infectious diseases and also save lives. MTN’s prioritization of health workers; given their critical role as first responders is key in safeguarding the health of millions of Nigerians
- The arrival of the vaccine is an excellent step to restoring economic stability in the country: Covid-19 is not just a health pandemic, it is also a “socio-economic pandemic”. Inasmuch as the vaccines will not lead to the immediate end of the pandemic, it will reduce disruption and anxiety caused by the pandemic.
- The donations towards the vaccine is a clarion call for more partnerships: With MTN setting the pace, it is expected that more private organizations would follow suit and give towards the acquisition of vaccines for the continent.
MTN recognizes the power of collaboration and remains committed to the collective efforts of individuals, organizations, and government in the fight against the pandemic.
