COVID-19: Federal Government receives Russia’s Coronavirus vaccine

The Nigerian Federal Government announced today on Friday, September 4 that they have received COVID-19 vaccine samples from Russia.

The samples were delivered to the Minister of Health Osagie Ehanire by Russia’s Ambassador to Nigeria Alexey Shebarshin, during a visit to the ministry in Abuja. The Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora; top management of the Health Ministry, and other Nigerian Scientists were also present during the courtesy visit.

This information was contained in a statement signed by the ministry’s Director of Information, Media, and Public Relations, Olujimi Oyetomi which was titled “Russian Federation Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Alexey L. Shebarshin on a courtesy visit to Nigeria’s Health Ministers, Russian-made COVID-19 Vaccine finally here.”

Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, according to reports, said his country approved a vaccine offering “sustainable immunity” against the lethal COVID-19.

However, the World Health Organisation had subsequently said it would review the effectiveness of the vaccine made by Russia.

Osagie notes that the vaccine would be “quickly referred” to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control as well as the Nigeria Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, amongst other agencies, for review and possible validation.

There has been an urgent global need for a vaccine since the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic as millions of people all over the world have been affected since January.