Coronavirus: FG Gives Update On COVID-19 Vaccines Availability

The Federal Government of Nigeria has hinted on when Coronavirus pandemic vaccine would be available for use.

According to the government in a statement on Thursday, September 17, by Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, no vaccine would be ready for the treatment of the dreaded COVID-19 virus until 2021.

Ehanire revealed this while speaking during the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 yesterday, Naija News understands. The Minister again urged members of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) to end the ongoing strike, asking them to put into consideration the safety and well-being of their patients.

He said, “Vaccines will not be available until next year at best. No reliable therapeutics has been confirmed but our country must restart businesses, including travel to allow citizens to earn their livelihood.

“Compliance with all the recommended measures like wearing your masks, social distancing, avoiding gatherings etc will go a long way to help.

“I also use this opportunity to renew my calls to members of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) to put the plight, safety and well-being of their patients into consideration and to call off the ongoing strike while the differences are being addressed by negotiations.

He added, “It is important to remind ourselves that COVID-19 is real and spreading gradually in some parts of the world as we speak. It is risky to believe that it is going away even though it looks as if the figures are reducing here. Some countries are experiencing the so-called second waves with all the complications that go along with this easily spreading disease.”

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, on Thursday night, September 17, confirmed one hundred and thirty-one new cases of Coronavirus disease in the country.