THE World Trade Organisation (WTO) has disclosed that a vaccine production hub in Nigeria and other African countries.
The production hubs will also be situated in South Africa, Senegal, and Rwanda.
This was disclosed by the WTO Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, during a virtual meeting with stakeholders today.
She said, “We have now seen that over-centralization of vaccine production capacity is incompatible with equitable access in a crisis situation.
“Regional production hubs, in tandem with open supply chains, offer a more promising path to preparedness for a future health crisis.”
Meanwhile, the Federal Government had, in January, announced a N10 billion naira (about $25.3 million) fund to support domestic vaccine production to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
Health Minister Osagie Ehanire had revealed that the ministry of finance released the N10 billion as the country is working to develop an indigenous coronavirus vaccine.
“While we are working to develop our own vaccines, Nigeria is exploring options for licensed production, in collaboration with recognized institutions. We are also exploring the option of local production of the vaccines in the country,” Ehanire said.
