Nigeria to get 2m doses of new Covid-19 vaccine whenever one becomes available

NIGERIA'S health minister Dr Osagie Ehanire has revealed that the country will benefit from a proposed allocation of 2bn doses of any new Covid-19 vaccine meant for poorer countries when it becomes available.

With more than 22m confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide, out of which more than 700,000 deaths have been recorded, the race to discover a vaccines is in full force. Scientists in nations like the US, Russia, the UK, China, France, Germany and Japan are all working round the clock to come up with a foolproof vaccine.

However, developing countries like Nigeria cannot afford to join this race and are thus living at the mercy of industrialised nations. With Nigeria not making any attempt to uncover a vaccine or a cure, the country has no choice but to rely on the benevolence of those nations that find one.

Dr Ehanire said: “Nigeria is also working with the World Health Organisation to finalise enrolment with the access to Covid-19 tools accelerator, a global mechanism tracking and sponsoring research organisations working on Covid-19 vaccine development. We are also interested in the Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access facility, a Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation supported global initiative, to procure and assure equitable access to vaccines, as soon as they are available, especially for lower and lower-middle income countries.

“This will prioritise Nigeria for allocation of a part of 2bn vaccine doses that will be secured, in a special plan to protect the interests of poorer countries.” According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, more than 50,000 Covid-19 cases have been confirmed in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.