Nigeria Receives Newly Approved Covid-19 Vaccine From Russia

The Federal Government has today received samples of Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine.

The samples were delivered to the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, by the Russia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Alexey Shebarshin.

The Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora; top management of the Health Ministry and other Nigerian Scientists were also present at the event.

This was contained in a statement signed by the ministry’s Director of Information, Media, and Public Relations, Olujimi Oyetomi.

The statement was titled, ‘Russian Federation Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Alexey L. Shebarshin on courtesy visit to Nigeria’s Health Ministers, Russian-made COVID-19 Vaccine finally here.’

Recall NaijaNews had earlier reported that Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, said his country approved a vaccine offering “sustainable immunity” against the lethal coronavirus.

Subsequently, the World Health Organisation had sad it would review the effectiveness of the vaccine.

Also, Ehanire while speaking today, after receiving the Vaccine  said it 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.

The need for a vaccine has become more urgent globally and nationally with Nigeria recording over 50,000 COVID-19 infections and over 1,000 associated fatalities, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.