A total of one million ninety-six thousand seven hundred twenty-seven (1,096,727) eligible Nigerians have been vaccinated with the first dose in the first phase of the COVID-19 vaccination as of April 18, 2021, according to the latest data from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

Also, 12 states are yet to reach the 50 percent target mark of the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

This brings the proportion of those vaccinated to 54.5 percent.

The States are: Abia (30.5); Akwa Ibom (36.4); Anambra (27.9); Bayelsa (48.3) ; Delta (49.8); Ebonyi (38.7); Enugu (37.1); FCT (44.8); Imo (48.0); Rivers (38.5); Sokoto (34.5) and Taraba (31.7).

The Federal Government had directed states to stop once they reach 50 percent of the vaccine doses allocated to them to ensure those that have received the first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine are guaranteed their second jab.

This is because of the difficulty and uncertainty in getting the next batch of COVID-19 jabs, especially the AstraZeneca vaccine.