Dec. 6, 2021

…Says Omicron has not been classified as deadly

The Federal Government says it has spent at least $29 million to procure the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccines in the country.

The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.

According to him, the country procured Johnson and Johnson, about 40 million doses, at about $29 million.

“The 40 million doses will come in stages. We have not requested that they be brought in bulk because we are going to be receiving them as we are dispensing them,” the minister said.

“In addition to that, we have received doses from partners, friends, and other countries all going through the COVAX facility and the COVAX facility collates all vaccines that other countries want to give to us.”

He equally reacted to the fears posed by the spread of the new Omicron coronavirus variant, calling on countries to join hands to confront the new health challenge in the world.

When asked how deadly the Omicron variant is, the Ehanire said it has not been classified as deadly.

This, to him, is because there has not been any case of fatality nor severe illness reported yet.

“Up till now, it cannot be classified as deadly because zero fatalities have been reported. No severe illness has been reported,” he explained.

“The United Kingdom has reported about 246, about 86 in the last 24 hours but they have not reported any fatalities or any severe illness.”

On the ban imposed by some countries against Nigerian travellers in a bid to contain the spread of Omicron, he expressed unhappiness over the development.

The UK’s move followed a similar decision by their Canadian counterpart which banned travellers from Nigeria, Egypt, and Malawi over fears of the new variant, bringing the number of African countries targeted by Ottawa to 10.