FG Seeks Private Sector’s Involvement in Vaccine Production

By Sodeinde Temidayo David

The federal government has once again called on the private sector to provide support in vaccine production, even as it also lauded the efforts of the sector to support its response to COVID-19.

The Vice President, Mr Yemi Osinbajo, represented by the Director-General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, said this at the Guild of Medical Laboratory Directors’ 23rd National Conference and Annual General Meeting in Abuja, on Wednesday.

He said, “We keep learning from our successes and challenges and strategising on ways for better preparedness for other emerging diseases.

“The pandemic continues to emphasise the urgent need for innovation and action, in vaccine manufacturing and in-vitro diagnostics, not just in Nigeria but across the continent of Africa.”

He further explained the need for the country to produce more vaccines, stressing that the government should not be the only source of production, so as to have a faster response to insurgencies such as the pandemic.

“Vaccine manufacturing capacity in Nigeria would greatly impact the national response to COVID-19 and other diseases and this cannot be left to government alone.

“As you know, there is a window of opportunity that exists with infectious diseases and health currently being given priority on the national and global agenda.

“This window requires more than just the usual to be done to ensure that actions follow any plans made to scale-up vaccine and diagnostics production,” the VP said.

Earlier, the National President of the Guild of Medical Laboratory Directors, Mr Elochukwu Adibo, explained that this year’s conference has over 300 registered participants attending physically and virtually with over 100 invited guests and organisations across the 36 states of the federation including the FCT.