FG receives Russia's Coronavirus vaccine

The Federal Government has received samples of Russia's Coronavirus vaccine.

The samples of the vaccine were delivered to the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire by the Russia's Ambassador to Nigeria, Alexey Shebarshin.

The Russian Ambassador paid a visit to the Ministry of Health in Abuja on Friday and a statement titled 'Russian Federation Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Alexey L. Shebarshin on Courtesy Visit to Nigeria's Health Minister, Russian - Made Covid-19 Vaccine is Finally Here' was read by the ministry's Director of Information, Media and Public relations, Olujimi Oyetomi.

Oyetomi in his statement said the Russian envoy was at the Health Ministry to formally hand over the Russian made vaccine to Nigeria.

The spokesperson also quoted the minister of health as saying, “Nigeria has been participating in series of knowledge exchange and contacts with different research bodies and countries to find solutions to the COVID-19 challenge and had contacted the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Nigeria for right of access immediately the Russian COVID-19 Vaccine was announced.”

“The consensus of decision reached was to quickly refer the vaccine to the necessary professional institutes and agencies of the Federal Ministry of Health beginning with NAFDAC, NIPRD, and for a team of scientists and advisors to the ministry to get to work on possible patronage of the Russian vaccine to alleviate the plight of Nigerians amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“A Ministerial Team is also expected to be raised to continue further engagement with the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Nigeria on the vaccine as well as other areas of interests highlighted at the meeting,” the statement concluded.

Nigeria currently has more than 50,000 recorded cases of Coronavirus and more than 1,000 deaths.