Posted on: Tue 09-02-2021

The Gamaleya of Russia has expressed willingness to supply the Sputnik V COVID-19 Vaccine to Nigeria, as the Federal Government dialogues with the High Commissioner of India over the COVAX Vaccine of the Barhat Institute.

Both vaccines, dossiers are under evaluation at the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The Federal Government explained that there was shortage of Pfizer and Moderna Vaccines, leading to the postponement of the National Sports Festival, which should have commenced this month to April 2021.

Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, who disclosed this at the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 (PTF) in Abuja, noted that the Federal Government had concluded negotiations with Gamaleya of Russia on the Sputnik V Vaccine, adding that it has 91 per cent efficacy.

He said Nigeria was no longer expecting the first tranche of 100,000 Pfizer Vaccine from the COVAX facility, but had been offered 16 million doses of AstraZeneca Vaccine in the first half of the year.

He urged Nigerians to disregard reports that Nigeria was disqualified from vaccine allocation, stressing that the Pfizer Vaccines had been reserved for countries with high burden, to which Nigeria does not belong.

Also, Executive Director, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, said the replacement of the initial 100,000 doses of the Pfizer Vaccines with the 16 million doses of the AstraZeneca Vaccines was a welcome development, as it would ensure wider reach of the population and was a better option using routine cold chain system.

“Nigeria is no longer expecting the 100,000 doses of the Pfizer/BIONtech Vaccine through the COVAX facility, but has been allocated about 16 million doses of the AstraZeneca Vaccine based on the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) epidemiological and equity assessment,” he added.

Source: Punch

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