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Govt explains why Nigeria cannot produce COVID-19 vaccines

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The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency said as of yesterday, Nigeria had recorded another form of polio called circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus, cVDPV

 

BY NICHOLAS ABE


The Federal Government has blamed the inability of past administrations to invest in the health sector for the country not being able to produce vaccines to tackle the dreaded COVID-19 virus.

Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib explaining why Nigeria has not been able to produce its own COVID-19 Vaccines described the process of producing vaccines as very complex.

Speaking at Monday’s briefing of the Presidential Taskforce (PTF) on COVID-19 said: “There are questions around why we are not producing the COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria. I want to just put on record that the process of producing a vaccine is very complex and complicated. You don’t just go to a shelf and pick up a vaccine. So, it requires massive investments that have not been done for many decades.

“In the past, in the 1960s, we used to make Yellow Fever vaccines in this country. In the ’90s, we took a decision to change our analogue ways of making the yellow fever vaccines into more recent technology. However, that transfer of technology never happened and that is why we did not continue to make Yellow Fever vaccines. Perhaps, if we had continued making yellow fever vaccines in the Yaba Laboratory in Lagos, it may have been easier for us to continue and make other vaccines before now.

“So, there are genuine efforts by this administration to restart the process of vaccine production which is why the Federal Government went into a hint venture agreement with Bio-Vaccines through May and Baker. It takes usually 10 to 15 years for you to be able to start producing the vaccines. It takes a very long and complicated process.”

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Shuaib said Nigeria hopes to cover 70 percent of its population when it gets the vaccines, saying while 20 percent of the vaccines is a donation from the COVAXX facility, Nigeria would have to source for funds to pay for the remaining 50 percent.

He expressed optimism that Nigeria will never get to the point where it has to force people to take the COVID-19 vaccines, saying his agency is working with religious leaders and the media to sensitise the public on the nature of the vaccines.

Meanwhile, Vanguard reports that the Federal Government has announced decision to review the COVID-19 safety protocols as well as the January 18 resumption date for schools in the light of Nigeria’s grim epidemiological situation with regards to the pandemic.

While declaring that no state was immune to the virus, the government also announced plan to roll out Rapid Diagnostic Test Kits RDTKs in five tertiary health institutions in Abuja by next Monday.

The Federal Government had last year faulted the Kogi state Government’s insistence on using the test kits rather than deploying the more expensive PCR test.

Also, speaking at the Monday’s briefing by the PTF, Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu said the earlier announcement of January 18 resumption of schools in the country was not cast in stone.

“When we decided on that date, it was just a target towards which we were working. And of course, we are giving it a review given what is happening in the country.

“Today at the PTF meeting, we looked at the rising figures and decided that probably we should take another look at the date.

“The January 18 resumption date is not sacrosanct as it is subject to constant review in view of prevailing epidemiological circumstances. We are reviewing it. In view of the rising cases, today we have considered it at the meeting of the PTF, and tomorrow, the ministry is going to take it up. So, most likely it is going to be reviewed,” Adamu stated.

READ: Nigeria to take delivery of COVID-19 vaccines January

National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force, Dr Sani Aliyu, noted that the PTF would soon review the safety protocols to target nightcrawlers who violate the current safety precautions.

“Our beds are fast filling up in our treatment centres and you don’t want to be in a situation where the decision is being taken as to whether you should be put on oxygen or a ventilator.

“The PTF is currently in the process of reviewing our protocols. We have had discussions with state governors including a review of curfew hours particularly to address the issue of nightlife and entertainment which is also driving the current numbers and once this review is completed, an announcement will follow with regards to the curfew”, he stated.

Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu on his part lamented that hospital capacity in several towns has reached a critical level.

He said; “We are reaching a critical level with our hospital capacity in many towns in Nigeria and we must begin to protect our most vulnerable as we get deeper into this phase of the outbreak. Remember this virus is not tired and it is taking advantage of our tiredness and fatigue.”

Minister of State, Health, Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora warned against overcrowding at the enrolment centres of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), saying the situation could be avoided if prospective enrolees would adhere to the timelines released by the Commission.

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