WHO ranks Nigeria 4th best in COVID-19 response globally, considers vaccine production in Africa

*Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, says the country’s preparation for the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccinations is ‘highly commendable’

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

In relation to the most successful responses to the damaging Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has ranked Nigeria’s COVID-19 response as the fourth-best in the world.

Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, WHO Country Representative, disclosed this development when spoke at an event on the arrival of the first consignment of 177,600 doses of the Johnson and Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 Vaccines Thursday, August 12, 2021, in Abuja, FCT.

ConsumerConnect reports the Federal Government has said at least 1,173,132 doses of the vaccine, part of the 29.8 million doses being procured through the African Export-Import Bank will arrive in the country later this month.

L-R: Mr. Femi Adesina (SA to President), Dr. Osagie Ehanire (Minister for Health, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye (NAFDAC), Dr. Faisal Shuaib (NPHCDA) and Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu of NCDC, at a media briefing in the State House Abuja

Mulombo said: “We are witnessing the symbolic arrival of 177,600 Johnson & Johnson vaccines, another landmark event in Nigeria’s response to COVID-19 pandemic; widely acclaimed by many as one of the most successful so far in the world.

“Nigeria was ranked fourth among the top ten most successful responses to COVID-19.”

The Representative of UN health body also stated: “WHO had on many occasions, commended the government, including the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC), Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), for the successful completion of the first phase of the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out with the vaccination of the frontline workers and other priority groups who are at high risk of COVID-19.

“Nigeria’s preparation for the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination, involving more resources and logistics, is highly commendable.”

He added: “These vaccines are safe and effective and will be the game-changer; but for the foreseeable future, we must continue wearing masks, physically distance and avoid crowds.

“J&J Vaccine is highly effective against the Delta variant and against severe diseases, hospitalisations and deaths from COVID-19.”

Earlier in his remarks on the occasion, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NPHCDA, had said the 177,600 doses of Johnson and Johnson Vaccine are part of the 29,850,000 doses procured from the African Union (AU) through the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT) platform.

“The balance of the vaccines will be delivered over the coming months. But we are glad to hear that before the end of August, the total quantity of vaccines that we will be receiving is 1,173,132.”

According to Shuaib, Nigeria has the capability to store and distribute the vaccine to the point of administration, “as we have working freezers in all 36 States plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).”

He stated: “The Johnson&Johnson Vaccine is stored at temperatures of +2 to +8 degree Celsius, which is the temperature in which most of our routine immunisation vaccines are stored.

“Because it is a one-dose effective vaccine, these doses will be focused on those who are in the hard-to-reach areas, that is, the riverine areas, desert communities, security compromised areas and also the elderly.”