The Federal Government has called on the citizens to be vigilant and ensure that they get vaccinated due to the development of COVID-19 resurgence variants in the People’s Republic of China, and other countries in Europe.
The Minister of Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire, made the disclosure on Monday in Abuja, as the ministry and its agencies briefed the press on the recent update of COVID-19 across the globe.
Ehanire also revealed that the resurgence was not only in China, but on an increase in America and Europe adding that it was something generally seen as seasonal.
“It is not unexpected during the winter months. Generally as observed the last few years there’s an increase so the recent relaxation of COVID-19 in China also affected with the removals of travel restriction and together those countries that are not restricted.
“Not that there is really a new variant but for the sub variants known as my omicron virus and the sub variants due to temperature dropping, but in Nigeria it is just harmattan season.
“The Ministry of Health continues to maintain vigilance and a high level of preparedness especially at our points of entry,” the minister said.
Speaking, the Director General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, said worldwide as at January, there were 660 million confirmed cases and about 10% of those 6.7 million deaths had been associated with the cases.
He further revealed that from 26th December 2022 to 1st January 2023 there were 3 million new cases out of 10,000 deaths reported worldwide overall.
“This represents an actual reduction in weekly cases and deaths of 22% and 12%, respectively, for the African region of which we are part of the reports we have 470 3% and 22% Decrease in new cases and deaths compared to the previous week.
“This includes North and South America, and Western Pacific countries of course, including China, and Japan.
“There have been some 84% and 29% increase in cases respectively, and these cases have been associated with a 49% and 35% increase in deaths, respectively for the Americas and the Western Pacific,” he added.
Also, Director of National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) Dr Faisal Shualb, who was represented by Director of Planning Research and Statistics Dr. Garba Bulama, revealed that this year, the agency had seen an increase in the number of eligible population from 11,773,503 to 115,983,921 as a result of an increase in the number of persons who turned 18 years.
He explained that, 1% of all Covid cases at the start of December, estimates from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention show that it surged to become the dominant strain by the end of the month, responsible for about 41% of all infections, in northeastern states, that figure hads jumped above 70%.
“The increase in the number of cases seen globally is as a result of the mutation that is occurring and the low intake of booster doses.
“We are therefore calling on all Nigerians to ensure that they take their booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccines. Just like the flu vaccine, the COVID-19 vaccines have become routine vaccines that help protect us against this deadly virus.
“We are continuously working with all stakeholders at National, State and Local Government to Increase awareness, social mobilization and increase coverage.
“As at January 7 2023, Nigeria has a vaccine stock balance of 28,968,045 doses. More vaccines are still expected over the coming weeks,” he said.