The Federal Government has taken delivery of samples of Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine from Russia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Alex Shebarshin, on Friday, September 4, 2020.
The vaccine was received on Nigeria’s behalf by the Minister for Health, Osagie Ehanire, from the Russian Ambassador.
According to a monitored media report, the Director of Information, Media and Public Relations of the Ministry of Health, Olujimi Oyetomi, in a statement disclosed that the Russian envoy made the delivery during a courtesy visit to the ministry in Abuja.
The statement pointed out that Ehanire quickly referred the vaccine to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Nigeria Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development and others for review and possible validation.
The minister said, ‘’We are exploring all knowledge in terms of therapeutics and vaccines. We are expressing our interest in the Covid-19 vaccine so that we will have the opportunity to work elaborately.’’
Ehanire explained that Nigeria has been taking part in a series of knowledge exchange and contact with several research bodies and nations in a bid to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
In his own remark, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib, stated that this opportunity will help to strengthen the collaboration between Russia and Nigeria.
The Ministry’s Director of Hospital Services Department, Dr Adepimpe Adebiyi, said that this is an opportunity to expand our vaccine production. He said the technical officers will interphase with the Russian team in order to strengthen the relationship between Nigeria and Russia.
The #HMH @DrEOEhanire at the meeting with #Russian Ambassador to #Nigeria #HE Alexey L. Shebarshin expressed #Nigeria's interest for #Russian's #COVID19 vaccine.
"We are exploring all knowledge in terms of therapeutics & vaccines". pic.twitter.com/qQsp3aIQxm
— Federal Ministry of Health, NIGERIA (@Fmohnigeria) September 4, 2020
Kudos to President Putin and the Russian Scientists. I bet the shock on Bill Gates and his Vaccine.
Why are we rushing into vaccine from Russia. So the success recorded so in the treatment and even low death rate is not an achievement. WHO has given 2021 march for such approval for any vaccine.