Why Nigeria should consider electricity, storage facilities before procuring COVID-19 vaccines: PSN

*Leadership of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria recommends that the Federal Government purchases Oxford-AstraZeneca and Russia’s Sputnik vaccines as it would be tough to store other vaccines at minus 70 centigrade in Nigeria

Emmanuel Akosile | ConsumerConnect

Against the backdrop of perennial challenges in the country’s economy, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, has cautioned the Federal Government to consciously consider Nigeria’s storage facilities and the epileptic electricity supply in the country before procuring Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines.

Ohuabunwa stated this Thursday, January 14, 2021, in an exclusive interview with The Punch.

It is safer for the country to buy vaccines that are suitable for its existing storage facilities, said he.

Report stated the Federal Government recently announced that it was expecting 100,000 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech Coronavirus vaccine before the end of January 2021.

However, the PSN President urged Federal and state governments to first consider other alternatives, if the government has the choice.

It would be tough to store vaccines at minus 70 centigrade in Nigeria, Ohuabunwa stated as he recommends Oxford-AstraZeneca and Russia’s Sputnik vaccines.

“We should consider the ability to manage the logistics, to store them safely and move them from port to hospital, clinics, and pharmacists where they will be administered to the patients and Nigerians.

“What matters most is the ability to manage the logistics, especially the ability to maintain a cold chain. With this, the Pfizer vaccine may not perfectly fit into our circumstances here,” he noted.

The PSN Chief added: “If we have a choice, we should go for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. It is easy to maintain with the facilities we have in holding other vaccines.

“Pfizer or Modena requires below zero centigrade to store. And in our country with our power situation, and the infrastructure we have, it will be a big work.

“It is not as if they are not durable, but it is going to be tough.