The federal government is working towards making a COVID-19 vaccine available in Nigeria as soon as possible.
The goal is to give Nigerians a safe COVID-19 vaccine through a less complicated vaccination plan.
The Nigerian Center For Disease Control, NCDC and the health ministry are cooperating with the FG to generate this plan for the availability of COVID-19 vaccine.
The health minister Osagie Ehanire announced yesterday that the government would acquire 20 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. More so, that Nigeria has set up a committee to supervise vaccines matters according to Reuters.
Nigeria is also ensuring access to the vaccine by enrolling to the Global Vaccine Alliance Initiative (Gavi) and the Global Access Program (COVAX)which the World Health Organization (WHO) supports, Ehanire said.
When will Nigeria get the COVID-19 vaccine
Without the capacity or provisions for a complicated COVD-19 vaccine like that of Pfizer, Nigeria could prefer any of the other vaccine available.
- What we know about Pfizer vaccine – storage and temperature
- Getting COVID-19 Vaccine Early – Osagie Ehanire
However, other COVID-19 vaccines have certain complexities similar to Pfizer’s – temperature, storage and transportation. Also, some of the available COVID-19 vaccines are effective with two shots, others need one.
The minister said the plan is to choose the most suited vaccine from the existing vaccines.
As of Wednesday, Nigeria has confirmed 74,132 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 1,200 deaths.
There is not enough information available from the ministry of health yet, but there are things to know about the COVID-19 vaccine.
What we know about COVID-19 vaccine
As Nigeria reacts to the warnings of a possible second wave of COVID-19 infection, the Health Minister Osagie Ehanire announced that the first doses of the vaccine could come in January 2021.
There could be some fee for taking the COVID-19 vaccine when it comes in January. But this is risky as it could drive Nigerians who expect to get for free away.
The elderly could receive the first batches of the vaccine. It is also possible that people who already had COVID-19 and recovered could still need the vaccine.