In the wake of the suspension of the exports of the AstraZeneka vaccine doses by India, Nigeria expects to receive up to 70 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine this year through the African Union, the Nigeria Primary Healthcare Development Agency, NPHCDA, has disclosed.
Africa’s COVID-19 vaccination programme was boosted on Monday with the announcement by pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson, that it will supply up to 400 million doses of its single-shot COVID-19 vaccine to the African Union.
The supplies are meant to help Africa reach its target of vaccinating at least 60 per cent of the population, to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
The Executive Director of the agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib said there was no evidence of adverse side effects in Nigeria and the AstraZeneca vaccine would continue to be used for eligible people aged 18 and above.
The African Vaccine Acquisition Trust Team, AVATT, has signed an agreement with Johnson & Johnson for the delivery of the vaccine doses. The agreement entails that 55 member states of the AU will take delivery, from the beginning of the third quarter of 2021, up to 200 million doses of the vaccine. Additional 180 million doses will be made available in 2022, making it a combined total of up to 400 million doses of the vaccine.
