FG Releases N10bn To Support Local Production Of Covid-19 Vaccines

The Federal Government has released N10bn to support local vaccine production, the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire said

He said this on Monday at the briefing of the Presidential Task Force.

Ehanire said, “The Ministry of Finance has released N10bn to support domestic vaccine production. While we are working to develop our own vaccines, Nigeria is exploring options for licensed production in collaboration with recognized institutions, we are also exploring the option of local production of the vaccines in the country and have had discussion with a producer.”

The minister made the disclosure amid fear of the second wave of the pandemic, as the country has recorded 110,387 cases with 1435 deaths.

He said options had been made available for the government to acquire approved vaccines for Nigerians.

“We are hopeful that the first consignment will arrive in the country in some weeks. Apart from the COVAX facility, which is billed to cover vaccination of just 20 per cent of our population, we plan to increase our chances of getting enough vaccines to meet the country’s need to cover an additional 50 per cent of the population,” he added.

Nigeria does not have the storage capacity for vaccines like the Pfizer vaccine. The Pfizer vaccine needed -70 degrees Centigrade.

But Ehanire said efforts are being made to acquire the vaccines suitable for the country’s infrastructure.

The minister revealed that Nigeria has written to express interest in 10 million doses of the viral vector vaccine, adding it could be supplied as from March 2021.