Minister of Health Osagie Ehanire on Wednesday said the COVID-19 vaccine should get to Nigeria by January 2021.
He said a committee set up for that purpose was already working with a view to deciding the kind of vaccine that would be suitable for Nigeria.
Ehanire disclosed this in an interview with State House correspondents after the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.
He said Nigeria had signed up with the World Health Organisation and the GAVI Alliance for access to vaccines immediately they are available.
“We signed up for advanced market participation in COVAX. So, if we will be able to get our own, I think it will be in January,” Ehanire said, “But there are different types of vaccines.”
The health minister added: “So, we are working on the cost. Which one shall we get first? Obviously the one we can afford. Remember that we have 200 million citizens. We need to have a way to be able to get enough to be able to take care of our citizens.”
Amid the government’s plan, there are concerns that the vaccine may be unfit for all especially those with allergies and other underlying ailments.
The authorities, however, say the vaccines will undergo clinical test when they arrive.
