The Federal Government has stated that it will reduce the COVID-19 vaccine allocation to states by 50 per cent as global scarcity looms.

Dr Faisal Shuiabu, Executive Director of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), who disclosed this on Tuesday in Lafia, Nasarawa State, added that the remaining 50 per cent will be allocated during the second dose within the next eight to twelve weeks.

The reason for this, according to Shuiabu, is that the country will experience a delay in the delivery of the second batch due to high demand in countries where the vaccines are produced.

He said: “I would like to state that there is a global scarcity of COVID-19 Vaccines due to high demand for the vaccines, especially in countries where they are being produced.

“For this reason, we anticipate a delay in vaccine supply to Nigeria. This government has therefore decided to rationalise by preserving 50 per cent of available doses of the vaccines for administration as second doses.

“What this means is that in each state of the federation, including FCT, only 50% of allocated doses of vaccines are currently being administered. The remaining 50% will be administered 8-12 weeks from the date of the first doses.”

The NPHCDA boss said efforts are ongoing globally to ensure vaccines are made available as required for attaining herd immunity worldwide.

He added the Federal Government is committed to ensuring vaccines are supplied to Nigeria for the smooth continuation of the vaccination campaign