Daily COVID Tracker: NCDC reports 161 cases, and WHO warns against combining vaccines

Nigeria recorded 161 cases of COVID-19 infections on Monday. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Tuesday. 

WHO warns against combining COVID vaccines

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned against combining different brands of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Owing to concerns about blood clots in some vaccines, some countries are already combining different brands with some experts saying it triggers a stronger immune response.

Speaking at a briefing on Monday, Soumya Swaminathan, WHO chief scientist, said there is no sufficient data to support the practice.

“It’s a little bit of a dangerous trend here. We are in a data-free, evidence-free zone as far as mix and match,” Swaminathan was quoted to have said.

“It will be a chaotic situation in countries if citizens start deciding when and who will be taking a second, a third and a fourth dose.”

WHO tackles countries over COVID booster dose

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of WHO, has kicked against the move by some countries to offer booster shots to citizens while some nations are yet to receive the COVID vaccines.

Tedros said such booster doses should be donated to countries in need of vaccines.

“The global gap in COVID-19 vaccine supply is hugely uneven and inequitable. Some countries and regions are actually ordering millions of booster doses before other countries have had supplies to vaccinate their health workers and most vulnerable,” Tedros said.

“The priority now must be to vaccinate those who have received no doses and protection,” the WHO chief said.

“I ask you, who would put firefighters on the frontline without protection? Who is most vulnerable to the flames of the COVID-19 pandemic? The health workers on the frontlines, older persons and the vulnerable.”

Physicians ask Nigerians to strictly adhere to COVID protocol

The West African College of Physicians (WACP) has advised Nigerians to take seriously the precautionary measures against COVID-19.

Benjamin Uzochukwu, chairman of community health, WACP Nigeria chapter, made the call during a media conference in Abuja on Monday.

“The call is imperative because we have generally relaxed and dropped our guards concerning the COVID-19 preventive measures,” Uzochukwu said.

“To worsen the situation, a new variant known as the Delta Variant has emerged in Nigeria. This variant is very dangerous because it kills faster.

“It is important for us to embrace the vaccine because the only way to stop the spread of the virus in Nigeria is to achieve immunity of the population which is referred to as ‘health immunity.”

Nigeria records 161  cases

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says 161 persons tested positive for the COVID-19 on Monday.

The agency said the infections were recorded in four states and the federal capital territory (FCT).

Lagos topped the chart with 153 infections followed by FCT with four. Gombe confirmed two cases while Oyo and Rivers reported one case each.

The NCDC said “74 cases from Lagos State reported on the 11th of July, 2021” were added to Monday’s figure.

No death was reported on Monday, and 37 recoveries were recorded.

So far, the NCDC has confirmed 168,713 cases across the country while 164,476 people have been discharged. However, 2,124 persons have died of the infection.

COVAX to deliver 1.4 billion doses within six months

Karina Gould, Canada’s international development minister, says COVAX, the global vaccine alliance, will deliver about 1.4 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine within the next six months.

According to Reuters, Gould said the projection was arrived at on Monday during a COVAX Advance Market Commitment meeting.

COVID-19 IN NIGERIA