The federal government of Nigeria has partnered with the Serum Institute Of India to start producing covid-19 vaccines locally.
Dr. Faisal Shuaib, the ED/CEO of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency who disclosed this, said the strategic partnership with the Indian government will be a launchpad toward vaccine self-sufficiency in Nigeria.
He further disclosed that the production of local vaccines in the country has been a top priority of the Buhari-led administration.
He said; “This is one reason we have been engaging partners of interest in actualizing this very important project.”
“My meeting today with Mr. Vijay Patil, Director International Business, Serum Institute of India centered around how to partner in producing vaccines locally to advance vaccine equity in Nigeria.
“The work we do with BVNL will be a launchpad towards vaccine self-sufficiency in Nigeria”.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Minister of Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire has said the N10billion earmarked by the Federal government for the local production of vaccines in 2020 is still intact.
He said; “We are as prepared as we can be, we are also pursuing capacity to produce vaccine biotech.
“Visitors from the Serum Institute of India are going to be technical partners of Bio-Vaccine Nigeria Limited.
“Nigeria is a 49 percent shareholder in a company called Bio-Vaccine Nigeria Limited, and the bio-vaccine is a revival of the former vaccine plants that the Federal Government used to have.
“The private sector was invited to join and form a special purpose vehicle – a company called Bio-Vaccine. This was conceived before COVID-19.
“Now the joint venture was stalled because of the outbreak, when there was a lockdown and when nothing could move.
“We are working on getting that technology to both produce routine vaccines and also COVID-19 vaccines under license and importation of the technology and partnership for it.”
