Nigeria’s lamentations, inequality and global COVID-19 Vaccine supplies

*The National Primary Health Care Development Agency says the Federal Government of Nigeria laments the limited Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccine supplies, which remain a worldwide problem that needs to be solved urgently

*Africa should not be begging for vaccines; Africa should be producing vaccines, says Akinwumi A. Adesina, President of African Development Bank

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

Since the commencement of vaccinations against the damaging Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the country, the Federal Government has lamented the obvious inequality in the distribution of vaccines in the international system.

ConsumerConnect hitherto had reported severally on issues of vaccine equity, vaccine hoarding by wealthy economies, and the limited vaccine supply to developing countries, including Nigeria with staggered first and second vaccine jabs, and other emerging markets with far-reaching consequences on their vaccination programmes across the world.

Dr. Faisal Shuaibu, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), who stated this at a media briefing in Abuja, FCT, said the West African country has also experienced what he called ‘great frustration’ in this regard.

Vaccination began March 5, 2021, and as of Friday, June 25 report says 2,171,722 Nigerians have received their first dose a COVID-19 Vaccine, while 1,085,229 people have received their second dose in the country.

The NPHCDA Chief stated: “We have experienced great frustration regarding the global vaccine supply.

“Not only have there been huge challenges with respect to vaccine manufacturers producing enough vaccines for the world, but there has been great inequality in terms of distribution.

“Most countries of the world have received few, and in some cases no vaccines. This is a problem that needs to be solved urgently and we are communicating this very clearly to our international partners on behalf of Nigerians.”

Shuaibu said: “Recently, we are encouraged by the swell of contributions and pledges from major nations into COVAX.

“Rich nations of the world are showing greatly increased recognition that there must be more supply produced, and it must be distributed much more fairly, and they are becoming active in solving this.”

He noted that the United States (US) White House, has reconfirmed it will send 80 million initial COVID-19 Vaccine doses internationally by the end of this month, with additional shipments continuing to ramp up thereafter.

However, the NPHCDA Executive Director added that supplies and other large donations of vaccines to COVAX that are now planned will enable the organisation to supply new consignments to Nigeria and other countries in need of vaccines now.

WTO intervention to address shortage in universal vaccine supplies

It is recalled that in connection with the apparent shortage in vaccine supplies to several countries of the world, and in identifying steps for concrete follow-up that emerged from the discussion on the need for vaccine equity, Nigerian-born Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), at the conclusion of the WTO-organised meeting titled, “COVID-19 and Vaccine Equity: What Can the WTO Contribute?” April 14, 2021, touched on the burning issue of vaccine equity.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala said that government ministers, vaccine manufacturers, civil society advocates and leaders of international organisations at the forum had identified problems and pointed to potential solutions to the pressing challenge.

She disclosed that WTO members could further reduce export restrictions and supply chain barriers and work to facilitate logistics and customs procedures in their countries.

The WTO Director-General disclosed another measure is that vaccine producers themselves could work to maximise the existing production capacity where it exists, providing knowhow and technology transfer, and take steps towards longer-term investment.

While highlighting the importance of increased contract transparency, Okonjo-Iweala further said aside from international organisations and financial institutions’ providing financial support for existing and new capacity in vaccine production, they could offer capacity support on regulatory issues for vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics towards ensuring access to the much needed COVID-19 Vaccines around the world.

Africa should not be begging for vaccines ─AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina

Ahead of the recent African Development Bank Group (AfDB) 2021 Annual Meetings, Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, President of AfDB again, has urged African leaders to focus on vaccine production and access for the continent as the COVID-19 epidemic continues to take lives and hurt economies and livelihoods.

Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, President of AfDB

Adesina stated this while addressing the leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at a special summit Saturday, June 19 just days before the Grop’s Annual meetings scheduled for June 23-25.

Amba Mpoke-Bigg of the Communication and External Relations Department, in a piece on the AfDB Web site noted Adesina said: “Africa needs solutions to help it navigate through the very challenging times posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“But the rebound will depend on access to vaccines.”

The AfDB President told the leaders that “Africa should not be begging for vaccines. Africa should be producing vaccines.”

According to him, the regional lender will support the continent as part of the vaccines plan of the African Union (AU).

AfDB is planning to commit $3 billion to develop the pharmaceutical industry in Africa, Adesina said.

The Bank’s President, in recent times, is reported to have publicly emphasised the need to rapidly build a healthcare defence system for the continent, in readiness to tackle COVID-19 pandemic and future pandemics.

The Bank has already channelled $2 million in emergency assistance to the World Health Organisation to boost the WHO’s capacity for infection prevention, testing, and case management.

It has also provided $28 million in funding to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) for a COVID-19 response project.

This will strengthen capacity to coordinate the Covid-19 response and future epidemics across Africa.

This year, the Bank organised its annual meetings around the theme, “Building Resilient Economies in Post COVID-19 Africa.”

The meetings will provide a platform for its governors to share their countries’ experience in addressing the pandemic and the policy measures they are employing to rebuild economies and livelihoods.

Following the AfDB leader’s conversation with the leaders, the ECOWAS heads in a communiqué, welcomed the recent decision by G-7 nations to provide additional vaccines to developing countries.

They also encouraged the West Africa Health Organisation to intensify efforts at mobilising partnerships to produce COVID-19 vaccines on the African continent.

South Africa, France collaborate to establish first vaccines plant in Africa 

ConsumerConnect also had reported that in a strategic move to consolidate the recent push for foreign pharmaceutical companies so they can waive their intellectual property rights, and share technology for COVID-19 Vaccines and treatments, South Africa, France and World Health Organisation (WHO) recently announced plans for Africa’s first COVID-19 Vaccine facility to be located in South Africa.

The proposed vaccine manufacturing facility is designed to use messenger RNA (mRNA), which is regarded as the breakthrough technology of the global inoculation effort.

A statement from the office of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa Monday, June 21, 2021, ahead of the official announcement same day had confirmed the “technology transfer hub” would be located in the Southern African country.

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