Covid-19: Nigeria says it is progressing on the development of its own vaccine
Two vaccines are being developed by Nigerian scientists (illustrative image) REUTERS - REMO CASILLI
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While India has suspended vaccine deliveries, which should prevent Nigeria from receiving several million doses as planned at the end of March, the country announced this week that it was making progress in the development of its own vaccine.
In January, Abuja released $ 25 million to develop a local vaccine response.
For the time being, two vaccine candidates are being developed according to the presidential task force set up by the federal state.
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Boss Mustapha, the head of the presidential task force responsible for managing the pandemic, gives few details on the two vaccines developed by Nigerian scientists.
We only know that clinical trials and certifications are still to come.
But the announcement aims in the official's words to "
boost the morale and image of the medical industry
" in the country.
Nigeria, which released $ 25 million in January to develop a vaccine, is also exploring the possibility of producing it under license, a bit like India is doing with AstraZeneca.
The country has certain industrial capacities and could, like Morocco with Sinopharm, embark on large-scale production.
This desire to become a producer is all the more evident given that the Covax initiative intended to supply vaccines to developing countries is in the dark, while India has decided to stop its exports, in order to provide first its people.
Aubuja has so far received four of the sixteen million doses planned.
Nigeria's ambition is to eventually vaccinate 140 of its 200 million inhabitants.
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Nigeria
Vaccines
Coronavirus