June 4, 2021

The Federal Government says that the local production of the COVID-19 vaccine is not yet feasible owing to the high cost of conducting clinical trials that run into millions of dollars.

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire disclosed this during the weekly presidential media chat.

Ehanire indicated that there is no supplementary budget yet as he declined to disclose the country’s financial commitment towards procuring additional vaccines.

Although a budget is not yet in place, Dr Ehanire explained that the country has begun putting strategies in place towards potentially becoming a vaccine production hub in Africa.

The Minister noted that the unpredictability of vaccine supply as a result of global shortage remains a huge challenge.

He said Nigeria is looking to get a donation of the COVID-19 vaccine from the Covax facility and other countries that no longer have a need for their oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.

This donation Dr Ehanire hopes will be gotten in August 2021 at the earliest.