Federal Govt: Nigeria won’t buy coronavirus vaccines from private company
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| No vaccine would be allowed into the nation till they may be licensed through the NAFDAC |
The Federal Government, yesterday, revealed it would not buy coronavirus vaccines from private importers or uncertified vaccines from the black market.
The government hinged its choice on reports of the proliferation of large scale fraud and counterfeit vaccines in circulation.
Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health apprise the choice on the Presidential Taskforce (PTF) briefing on coronavirus.
They add up that no vaccine would be allowed into the nation till they may be licensed through the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The minister defined that involving the private sector in dishing out vaccine could be studied by the vaccine coordinating committee and National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
He stated: "We ought to, however, recollect that the coronavirus vaccine isn't always a normal habitual vaccine, however an unfamiliar, novel vaccine with properties which are nonetheless being studied. There can be aspect outcomes in the course of their administration, for which government should issue indemnification and take responsibility, which will not cover vaccines imported or administered privately, outer of the lawful framework."
The minister stated "We applaud proceed to aid coronavirus vaccine financing through the Nigerian private sector, a good way to be solely channelled thru the account Nigeria has opened with the Afrexim Bank in Addis Ababa."
He stated the emergency authorisation for Astrazeneca vaccine by NAFDAC might clear the manner for shipping of the first set of the vaccine about the end of February.
Ehanire mentioned NPHCDA had made exact preparation to hit the ground ongoing and start immunisation as quickly the vaccines are conveyed through COVAX.
Storage, NAFDAC sampling of vaccines, distribution and operation, in line with him, were organized and the training of medical experts for vaccine administration was being finalised, even as a complicated procedure of get entry to through registration has been evolved for frontline healthcare workers, inclusive of laboratory staff. NPHCDA will complex further.
He added "There also are reports of a proposal of three hundred million doses of Sputnik V vaccines to the AVATT portfolio, which enhances availability to 557million. This might be a super comfort to the African region and additionally will increase the style of vaccines to four. The vaccine coordination committee will recommend at the exceptional alternatives for Nigeria, bearing salient factors in mind."
The minister said that the 2nd wave of the virus may have began out receding following international observations of a seeming decline in coronavirus cases.
He, however, recommended that government could neither draw conclusions but nor claim victory, however might as an alternative watch developments as they spread nationally and internationally.
On the outbreak of the Ebola Virus, Ehanire stated the government become monitoring developments at the ailment in Guinea, and running with the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) to include the unfold to different countries in the region.
According to him, ECOWAS nations adjoining to the epicentre have been additionally taking strict measures with reference to checking the motion of people to curtail the unfold of the disease.
The minister, who stated though Nigeria was categorized as a mild Ebola-danger nation due to its distance from Guinea, recommended Nigerians proceeding to go to nations in the general area to put off their visits.
Chairman of PTF on COVID-19, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, assured Nigerians that no stone would be left unturned in efforts to access safe and efficacious vaccines.
Mr. Boss Mustapha, Chairman of PTF on COVID-19, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), confident Nigerians that no stone could be left unturned in efforts to get access to secure and efficacious vaccines.
While supplicating for patience and vigilance, Mustapha confident that government would not acquire uncertified vaccines from the black market.