As the quest for vaccines by countries continues globally, Nigeria has received an offer for 42 million doses of vaccines from the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team, AVATT.
Minister of Health in Nigeria, Dr Osagie Ehanire said this in Abuja at the National Joint Media briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Nigeria.
According to him, the AVATT African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team, AVATT, which is Chaired by the President of South Africa, Mr Ramaphosa has acquired 300 million doses of three types of vaccines which have been offered to African countries, based on population, such that no country is left behind.
Also Read: WHO denies disqualifying Nigeria from receiving Covid-19 vaccines
He said Nigeria had subscribed to this whole-of-Africa approach, that strives to ensure that the country and its neighbours are safe.
” If all the projected vaccines are supplied, we estimate we should have covered over 45% of the population. In addition to the proposed sources, Nigeria has had bilateral negotiations with Gamaleya of Russia over their Sputnik V vaccine, which they are willing to supply to Nigeria. This vaccine has an efficacy of 91%. We are also in talks with the High Commissioner of India over the covax vaccine of Barhat Institute. Both vaccines dossiers are under evaluation with NAFDAC”. He explained.
Dr Ehanire, therefore, requested that Nigerians disregard the news over the weekend that Nigeria was “disqualified” from a vaccine allocation.
“This is false, Nigeria has ultracold (minus 80oC) freezers in strategic stores in Lagos, Abuja and Bauchi, with space to hold over 400,000 doses of vaccines, more than the 320,000 doses WHO Afro had offered”. He noted.
The Minister added that the vaccines had been reserved for countries with very high burden, to which Nigeria did not belong.
Zainab Sa’id
