Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday received the COVID-19 vaccine in Abuja.
The President was given the jab by his personal physician, Dr. Suhayb Sanusi.
This was marked by a brief ceremony witnessed by top government officials at the New Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Vice President Osinbajo was also vaccinated by his personal physician, Dr. Nicholas Audifferen.
Their vaccination followed the launch of the programme in Nigeria on Friday, with some of the country’s frontline health workers being the first to be vaccinated.
The President and his deputy were the first among the nation’s strategic leaders to take the vaccine after some frontline health workers at the treatment centre of the National Hospital, Abuja, were vaccinated on Friday.
Earlier on Friday, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control had declared the 3.924m doses of AstraZeneca vaccine which arrived in Nigeria on Tuesday as safe for use.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, explained the vaccination is painless, noting that a narrow gauge syringe was used with a small quantity injected in the upper arm.
The after-effects are mild, while a little discomfort follows in the area where the vaccine is administered, the minister explained.
