COVID-19: Nigeria Lacks Capacity To Produce Vaccine – NCDC DG, Chikwe Ihekweazu
Director-General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Chikwe Ihekweazu has disclosed that Nigeria does not have enough capacity for production of Covid-19 vaccines.
The DG who made this known in a television programme in Abuja, however expressed optimism that the country will not lack access to vaccines when they are available.
Ihekweazu revealed that most of the vaccines would have to be produced in India and other countries, but the country will leverage on its sophisticated distribution system through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
Ihekweazu said;
The most important thing in short term goal for a vaccine is access. We are part of a global coalition called COVAX that is working very hard to ensure equitable access across the world once these vaccines become available.
He stressed;
THERE ARE TWO IMPORTANT CRITERIA FOR VACCINES – EFFICACY, THAT IS IF THEY WORK, AND SAFETY. ONCE THIS IS PROVEN, AND WE HOPE TO GET THAT DATA BY THE END OF THE YEAR, THEN THE NEXT BIG ISSUE IS PRODUCTION CAPACITY.
WE DON’T HAVE A LOT IN NIGERIA; MOST OF THE PRODUCTION WILL LIKELY HAPPEN IN INDIA AND A FEW OTHER COUNTRIES. THE THIRD ASPECT WILL THEN BE THE DISTRIBUTION. THAT IS WHERE WE REALLY HAVE A LOT OF CAPACITY.
Meanwhile, NCDC has warned that the non-compliance to COVID-19 health guidelines could spike the second wave in Adamawa and other states in the country.
Fahad Mohammed, the technical adviser on the implementation of NCDC’s action plan, gave the warning in Adamawa state on Monday, September 28.
He sounded the warning during the sensitisation of officials of the Nigerian police and other paramilitary agencies in Yola.
As at Monday night, Nigeria recorded 58,460 confirmed coronavirus cases, 49,895 recoveries and 1,111 deaths in 35 states and the FCT.
