COVID-19: Nigeria receives vaccine samples from Russia

Fri, Sep 4, 2020
By editor
4 MIN READ

Coronavirus Pandemic

THE federal government has received a sample of Coronavirus, COVID-19, vaccine from Russia. Alexey L. Shebarshin, Russian ambassador to Nigeria, who delivered the vaccine, said the purpose of presenting the sample to the country was for study and further application.

A statement signed by Olujimi Oyetomi, director of information, Media and Public Relations of the federal ministry of health, on Friday, September 4,  said the sample vaccine will be referred to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, NIPRD, for further analysis and investigation for possible patronage.

“The Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire supported by the Honourable Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora and other top management of the Health Ministry and other Nigerian Scientists, Researchers and Advisors (who participated in the meeting online) played host to the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Nigeria, H.E. Alexey L. Shebarshin today, Friday, 4th September, 2020. As expected, the issue on the front burner for discussion is the recently announced Russian-made Vaccine against COVID-19.

“H.E. Alexey L. Shebarshin, who admitted that he is a non-scientist, said he was in the Federal Ministry of Health to formally hand over the Russian-made Vaccine against COVID-19 to Nigeria with an aide memoir which explains the details for Nigerian teams to study and get ready for further researches, patronage and application.

“The Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire stated that Nigeria has been participating in series of knowledge exchange and contacts with different research bodies and countries to find solutions to the COVID-19 challenge and has contacted the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Nigeria for right of access immediately the Russian COVID-19 Vaccine was announced.

“H.E. Alexey L. Shebarshin, who explained further that countries such as U.A.E, S/Arabia, Mexico etc have expressed interest in the Russian COVID-19 Vaccine, requested that Nigeria puts together a team to interface with his Embassy to drive the process of human trials not just for the Russian COVID-19 Vaccine but to explore further disease and health areas where the Russian Federation has expertise to manage with vaccines,” it said.

This is not the first COVID-19 vaccine/remedy that Nigeria is receiving since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country. Realnews had reported that the federal government had on May 16 received samples of Madagascar coronavirus herbal cure, COVID-Organics. President Muhammadu Buhari, while receiving the remedy ordered that the consignment be sent to the necessary regulatory bodies for tests before a decision on administering it.

Realnews had also reported that NAFDAC on Tuesday, August 25, approved 40 herbal solutions for clinical trials. Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General, NAFDAC, said the 40 herbal formulations were currently undergoing review to ensure their safety for use. “In March 2019, we inaugurated the Nigerian Herbal Medicine Product Committee (HMPC) to bridge the gap often created between traditional medicine practitioners and researchers.

“COVID-19 pandemic created an opportunity and we have been encouraging traditional medicine practitioners to submit their herbal formulations for evaluation. We also developed guidelines on how to register herbal medicine online and the labeling of the product. Prof. Maurice Iwu’s application for approval of herbal medicine for the management of COVID-19 is also part of the 40 applications we are reviewing for safety. We use the animal for safety test to ensure the formulation will not kill anybody,” she said

Meanwhile, some experts are calling on African leaders to be mindful of COVID-19 vaccines that are being shipped to the continent. For instance, there is a particular vaccine circulating on the social media that is specifically made for Africa. The vaccine has a directive that it is not for distribution in US, Canada or European Union.

– Sept. 4, 2020 @ 18:25 GMT |

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