Nigeria’s Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Tuesday announced the country’s scientists have developed two COVID-19 vaccines, reported CGTN Africa.
Boss Mustapha, the chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, said the new vaccines have currently been put under clinical trials. He said the vaccines will be put to use only after completing clinical trials and obtaining certification.
“This is a welcome development that will open a new vista in scientific breakthrough and will boost the morale and image of the medical industry in the country,” said Mustapha.
He appealed to all relevant agencies to provide support and create an environment for completion of the remaining protocols for the certification of the vaccines.
Nigeria has reported more than 162,000 virus-related cases so far. About 2,031 people have died from the virus, while over 148,500 people have recovered from the disease.
In related news, Nigeria received nearly 4 million doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca produced coronavirus vaccine through the WHO-led COVAX initiative earlier this month.
The health authorities began the vaccination drive on March 5, and so far 122,410 people have been vaccinated, according to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency. The current vaccination phase covers health workers and other frontline workers.
Amid concerns over the vaccine’s efficacy, Faisal Shuaib, head of the agency, said no Nigerian has developed any known severe side effects after the vaccination.
“What we have observed among some vaccines are mild side effects such as pain and swelling at the site of the vaccination, body pains, and mild fever,” he told the weekly briefing of COVID-19 Presidential Task Force in Abuja.
The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed more than 2.73 million lives in 192 countries and regions since originating in China’s Wuhan in December 2019.
Over 124 million cases have been reported globally so far, according to figures compiled by US-based Johns Hopkins University. The total recoveries have surpassed 70.3 million.
