By Edwin Uhara<\/p>\n
Recently, the Federal Government through the Presidential Task Force on
\nCovid-19 (PTF), announced that the sum of N10 billion has been released
\nto appropriate agency to fund domestic vaccine production to tackle the
\nscourge of Coronavirus in the country.<\/p>\n
The announcement was made by the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire
\nduring one of the weekly national briefings of the PTF in Abuja.<\/p>\n
He said: ”While we are working to develop our own vaccines, Nigeria is
\nexploring options for licensed production in collaboration with
\nrecorgnised institutions. We are also exploring the option of local
\nproduction of the vaccines in the country.”<\/p>\n
The Federal Government’s decision came at a time moral voices are rising
\nagainst what is now known as ‘vaccine nationalism.’ According to Dr.
\nAmir Khan, vaccine nationalism occurs when governments sign agreements
\nwith pharmaceutical companies to supply their own population with
\nvaccines ahead of them becoming available for other countries.”<\/p>\n
Since the outbreak of Covid-19, it seemed that most vaccine
\nmanufacturers have practically abandoned production of vaccines for
\nother aiments to become Covid-19 Vaccine candidates and this is why the
\nvisionary move by President Muhammadu Buhari to rejig Nigeria’s domestic
\nproduction of vaccines at the defunct Federal Vaccine Production
\nLaboratory in Yaba, Lagos State is most commendable.<\/p>\n
It will be recalled that in 2017, the Federal Government entered into a
\njoint venture agreement with pharmaceutical giant, May and Baker PLC for
\nlocal production of vaccines at the Yaba facility.<\/p>\n
The agreement which created a new company called Biovaccines Nigeria
\nLimited (BVNL) is jointly owned by both the Federal Government and May
\nand Baker Plc. While the Federal Government owns 49 percent equities,
\nMay and Baker PLC maintains the remaining 51 percent shares.<\/p>\n
“The objective of the company, (Biovaccines Nigeria Limited) is to
\nproduce safe and affordable human vaccines for Nigeria and reverse the
\nsituation of high mortality from immunizable diseases.<\/p>\n
Also, the company is to create a regional center for vaccine production
\nin West Africa and position Nigeria as a global player in the vaccine
\nbusiness.<\/p>\n
Before the entrance of Coronavirus in Nigeria on the 27th of February,
\n2020, the centre was to produce many of the basic vaccines that will be
\nneeded in the country.<\/p>\n
According to the then Minister of Health, Professor\u00a0 Isaac Adewole, “We
\nhave considered vaccines as a security issue, it is not only health, but
\nwe need to guarantee the security of all Nigerians particularly our
\nchildren. And so with this agreement, we will be able to produce these
\ncommon vaccines and from 2021, and beyond other vaccines that are
\nnecessary would also be put on board to administer to Nigerians.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other aspects of the partnership include; to provide the technology to
\nbuild and develop local capacity for research and development as well as
\nlocal manufacturing of basic vaccines required by the country to improve
\nimmunisation routines and reduce dependency on international donors.<\/p>\n
According to report, the vaccine production centre was operational for
\nabout six decades, between 1940 and 1991, producing large quantities of
\nvaccines against smallpox, rabies, yellow fever not only for Nigerians
\nbut for neighbouring countries like Cameroon, Central African Republic
\nand a few other countries in Africa.<\/p>\n
Sadly, the vaccine centre was closedown in 1991 by the then government
\nwhich said it wanted to reactivate and upgrade the facility.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Nigeria’s response to Covid-19 through the Presidential
\nTask Force has been very impressive. The taskforce is not only fighting
\nto flatten the curve, but also developing human capacity, building
\nresilient infrastructures and shifting the paradigm from the yearly
\ncapital flight caused by medical tourism to boosting domestic economy
\nthrough domestic healthcare facilities.<\/p>\n
From just two molecular laboratories, the PTF has built more than one
\nhundred molecular laboratories for testing of Covid-19 cases in all the
\nstates of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
\nIt has established treatment centers with 10-bed Intensive Care Unit
\n(ICU) facilities in all the 36 states and the FCT. It has increased
\ndaily testing capacity from 500 to over 30,000. It has secured the
\napproval of Mr. President and as well made provision in this year’s
\nbudget for the building of Oxygen Production Plant in all the 36 states
\nand the Federal Capital Territory. It has refurbished obsolete Cold
\nChains and acquired altra-modern ones to replace irreparable ones in all
\nthe 8,812 electoral wards in the country thereby enabling the National
\nPrimary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to deliver and
\nadminister Covid-19 vaccines to all Nigerians when vaccination programme
\nstarts so as to ensure that no Nigerian is left behind because according
\nto the PTF Chairman, Boss Mustapha, “No one is save until everyone is
\nvaccinated.”<\/p>\n
That is why President Buhari while extending the mandate of the
\ntaskforce in December last year said: “There is also the need to
\nspeedily and strategically access and administer the COVID-19 vaccine in
\na safe, effective and timely manner. This is an important obligation
\nthat we owe Nigerians as we go into the year 2021, and it must be
\ncarried out through efficient machinery.”<\/p>\n
\u201cNow is the time for collective efforts to be intensified. I,
\ntherefore, urge all sub-national entities, traditional rulers, religious
\nand leaders of thought to collaborate with the PTF by taking up the
\nresponsibility for risk communication and community engagement at all
\nlevels.”<\/p>\n
Though, the World Health Organization is against vaccine nationalism
\nbecause it denies poorer nations access to vaccines. According to it’s
\nDirector-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, “While there is a wish
\namong leaders to protect their own people first, the response to this
\npandemic has to be collective.”<\/p>\n
“In our interconnected world, if people in low- and middle-income
\ncountries miss out on vaccines, the virus will continue to kill and the
\neconomic recovery globally will be delayed.”<\/p>\n
“Vaccine nationalism will prolong the pandemic, not shorten it.”<\/p>\n
“The COVAX Facility is the agreed international mechanism for ensuring
\nequitable global access to vaccines. It is solidarity in action.”<\/p>\n
He went further to say that, \u201cVaccine nationalism could cost the
\nglobal economy up to $9.2 trillion and almost half of that \u2014 $4.5
\ntrillion \u2014 would be incurred in the wealthiest economies,”<\/p>\n
Similarly, when the United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare Products
\nRegulatory Agency (MHRA) gave authorisation for emergency supply of
\nOxford\/AstraZeneca Covid-19 Vaccine, formerly known as AZD1222, for the
\nactive immunisation of individuals 18 years or older in December last
\nyear, the British people were highly elated.<\/p>\n
This is what the UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt
\nHancock said when the breakthrough was announced: \u201cThis is a moment to
\ncelebrate British innovation – not only are we responsible for
\ndiscovering the first treatment to reduce mortality for Covid-19, this
\nvaccine will be made available to some of the poorest regions of the
\nworld at a low cost, helping to protect countless people from this awful
\ndisease. It is a tribute to the incredible UK scientists at Oxford
\nUniversity and AstraZeneca whose breakthrough will help to save lives
\naround the world.”<\/p>\n
“I want to thank every single person who has been part of this British
\nsuccess story. While it is a time to be hopeful, it is so vital everyone
\ncontinues to play their part to drive down infections.”<\/p>\n
In a related development, there is a new report that British scientists
\nare developing universal vaccines that will conquer all variants of
\nCoronavirus Pandemic.<\/p>\n
According to The Telegraph newspaper report quoted by the Voice of
\nAmerica on Valentine’s Day, British scientists are developing a
\nuniversal vaccine that would combat all the variants of the coronavirus
\nand could be available within a year.<\/p>\n
The paper says that scientists at the University of Nottingham are
\nworking on a vaccine that would target the core of the virus instead of
\nthe spike protein that current vaccines focus on.<\/p>\n
Targeting the core alleviates the need to frequently adjust existing
\nvaccines as the virus mutates.<\/p>\n
Saying, “proteins found in the core of the virus are far less likely to
\nmutate, meaning the vaccine would protect against all current variants
\nand would theoretically have greater longevity.”<\/p>\n
While there are currently many Covid-19 Vaccines like Pfizer-BioNTeh,
\nModerna, SinoPharm, Janssen, Novavax and Sputnik V, the British
\nOxford\/AstraZeneca\u2019s COVID-19 vaccine has been granted emergency use
\nauthorisation in India, Argentina, Dominican Republic, El Salvador,
\nMexico and Morocco for the active immunisation of adults.<\/p>\n
According to report, AstraZeneca has entered in to partnership agreement
\nwith the Serum Institute of India (SII), the world’s largest vaccine
\nmanufacturer for the supply of vaccines to the Indian Government as well
\nas to a large number of low and middle-income countries across the
\nglobe.<\/p>\n
According to Adar Poonawalla, Chief Executive Officer of the Serum
\nInstitute of India, “The emergency licensure in India marks an important
\nmilestone for all of us. The regulatory decisions are welcoming and
\nencouraging towards ensuring equitable access to a safe, immunogenic and
\naffordable vaccine for millions of people worldwide.”<\/p>\n
“The pandemic of 2020, however devastating – brought public and private
\ninstitutions, health authorities, governments of various countries, and
\nmost importantly the global communities together to pose a resilient
\nfront against the virus.”<\/p>\n
” That said, we would like to thank all the stakeholders at various
\nlevels who have continually supported and motivated us to fortify our
\ncommitment of health for all.”<\/p>\n
Because of the said licensure, today, India is the manufacturer of
\nCovishield Vaccine which is India’s version of the British
\nOxford\/AstraZeneca.<\/p>\n
Therefore, with the untiring efforts of the PTF, Nigeria in
\nnot-too-distance time will join the league of nations who are proud
\nmanufacturers of Covid-19 vaccines for it’s teeming population.<\/p>\n
Despite the pains, cries and inconveniences caused by Covid-19, Nigeria
\nhas been able to change the narratives by turning the national adversity
\ninto national gains.<\/p>\n
Hence, with or without vaccine nationalism, by the time the country
\nstarts local production of Covid-19 vaccines, it will serve as another
\nforeign exchange earner for the nation thereby adding to the strength of
\nour national budget which for first time in history, the non-oil sector
\nwill be accounting for 70 percent of the total expected revenue for this
\nyear.<\/p>\n
All that is required from Nigerians is to support and strictly adhere to
\nthe non-pharmaceutical guidelines put in place by the Presidential Task
\nForce under the able leadership of the Secretary to the Government of
\nthe Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the PTF, Mr. Boss Mustapha.<\/p>\n
Until everyone is vaccinated and have developed hard immunity against
\nCovid-19, let’s continue to take personal responsibility because
\nCoronavirus is looking for who to kill on daily basis.<\/p>\n
Comrade Edwin Uhara is a UN-trained Negotiator and Member, APC
\nPresidential Campaign Council in the last Presidential Election.<\/p>\n
If you choose, you can follow him on Twitter via @edwinuhara<\/p>\n
He writes from Abuja<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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