Daily COVID Tracker: NCDC logs 175 infections in 11 states, over 300 recoveries

Nigeria on Tuesday recorded 175 cases of COVID-19. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Wednesday. 

Abayomi: More than two doses of COVID vaccine may be required

Akin Abayomi, Lagos commissioner for health, says more than two doses of the COVID vaccine may be required for additional protection against the virus.

While speaking on Tuesday, during a media briefing in Ikeja, Abayomi explained that the virus keeps evolving and mutating, therefore an upgraded vaccination strategy is needed for protection.

“You may require a booster which is the first, second and then subsequent doses, because we’ve also discovered that even though the vaccine stops you from getting seriously sick, it may not necessarily stop you from catching a cold,” he said.

“We do know that some people who are even fully vaccinated with two doses will still catch COVID and some people, very few, will get quite sick and occasionally some people may die. But certainly, people that are dying who are not vaccinated are much higher than people who are dying that have been vaccinated.”

Russia to test nasal spray form of COVID vaccine

Russia plans to test a nasal spray form of its Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine among adult volunteers.

The nasal spray will be applied in two doses in a clinic in St Petersburg, according to a state document. In June, Russian authorities said the nasal spray vaccine is suitable for children aged 8-12.

President Vladimir Putin says Russia needs to speed up its COVID vaccination campaign as the country recorded 973 fatalities on Tuesday, its highest single-day death toll since the start of the pandemic.

Nigeria records 175 infections

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says 175 new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded.

The agency, in an update on October 12, said the new cases were confirmed in 10 states and the federal capital territory (FCT).

The FCT recorded the highest infections with 73, followed by Lagos with 34 new cases and Rivers with 15.

Other states with new infections include Gombe (13), Kano (10), Plateau (8), Katsina (6), Bauchi (5), Delta (5), Benue (4), and Nasarawa (2).

The agency said 310 persons were discharged on Tuesday after recovering from COVID-19.

No death was recorded and the fatality toll remains 2,756.

To date, 208,153 cases of COVID-19 and 195,936 recoveries have been confirmed across the country.

Panama approves Pfizer COVID vaccine booster for high-risk people

Panama has approved a booster dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for high-risk people.

These include nursing home residents, healthcare workers, bedridden patients and people over 55.

“We have decided to begin the process of applying a booster shot to the population with the Pfizer vaccine, starting tomorrow in public and private hospitals,” Luis Sucre, health minister said.

The booster shot will be administered to people who received their second dose at least six months ago.

Japan to administer third dose of COVID vaccine to people by December

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida says Japan will start to administer third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in December.

“We will be making preparations based on the assumption that we will start it as early as December,” Kishida said, adding that the government will bear the cost.