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Tag: Vaccine

  • FG takes delivery Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine

    FG takes delivery Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine

    The Federal Government on Friday received samples of Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine.

    Russia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Alexey Shebarshin, delivered the samples to the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, during a visit to the ministry in Abuja.

    This was contained in a statement signed by the ministry’s Director, Information, Media, and Public Relations, Olujimi Oyetomi.

    The statement was titled, ‘Russian Federation Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Alexey L. Shebarshin on courtesy visit to Nigeria’s Health Ministers, Russian-made COVID-19 Vaccine finally here.’

    The PUNCH had earlier reported that Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, said his country approved a vaccine offering “sustainable immunity” against the lethal coronavirus.

    The World Health Organisation had subsequently said it would review the effectiveness of the vaccine.

    Ehanire on Friday also said the vaccine would be “quickly referred” to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control as well as the Nigeria Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, amongst other agencies, for review and possible validation.

    According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, as of Thursday night, Nigeria has recorded over 50,000 COVID-19 infections and over 1,000 associated fatalities.

    Details later…

  • Russia approves first COVID-19 vaccine

    Russia approves first COVID-19 vaccine

    Russia President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said that Russia had become the first country in the world to grant regulatory approval to a COVID-19 vaccine after less than two months of human testing.

    Speaking at a Government meeting on State television, Putin said the vaccine, developed by Moscow’s Gamaleya Institute, was safe and that it had even been administered to one of his daughters.

    “I know that it works quite effectively, forms strong immunity, and I repeat, it has passed all the needed checks,” President Putin said.

    The World Health Organization (WHO) and Russian health authorities are discussing the process for possible WHO prequalification for the vaccine, a WHO spokesman said on Tuesday.

    The vaccine’s approval by the health ministry foreshadows the start of a larger trial involving thousands of participants, commonly known as a Phase III trial.

    Although, regulators around the world have insisted that the rush to develop Covid-19 vaccines will not compromise safety. But recent surveys show growing public distrust in governments’ efforts to rapidly produce such a vaccine.

    Meanwhile, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has accepted Russia’s offer of its coronavirus vaccine, volunteering to take the first shot as a gesture of trust and gratitude.

  • Safety and Immunogenicity of a China-developed COVID-19 vaccine candidate proved in phase 2 clinical trials

    Safety and Immunogenicity of a China-developed COVID-19 vaccine candidate proved in phase 2 clinical trials

    A COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by Chinese researchers proved safe and able to induce immunogenicity with low does, according to a report released on The Lancet on Monday.

    The vaccine is a recombinant novel coronavirus vaccine jointly developed by Chinese top vaccine researcher Chen Wei and Chinese biopharmaceutical company CanSinoBIO.

    The phase 2 trial was randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial conducted in a single center in Wuhan, Central China’s Hubei Province. There were 508 volunteers over the age of 18 who participated in the trial, according to The Lancet report.

    The vaccine induced seroconversion of the neutralizing antibodies in 59 percent and 47 percent of the participants, and seroconversion of binding antibody in 96 percent and 97 percent of participants, in the 1×10¹¹ and 5×10¹⁰ viral particles dose groups, respectively.

    A single injection of the vaccine at 1×10¹¹ viral particles and 5×10¹⁰ viral particles induced comparable specific immune responses to the spike glycoprotein at day 28, with no significant differences noted between the two groups, according to the report.

    No serious adverse events were documented within 28 days, the authors said.
    This study is the first randomized controlled trial for evaluation of the immunogenicity and safety of a candidate non-replicating Ad5-vectored COVID-19 vaccine, the authors said.
    Source: Global Times

  • Research: 20 applicants submit proposals requesting N67bn grants for development of vaccines — CBN

    Research: 20 applicants submit proposals requesting N67bn grants for development of vaccines — CBN

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), says it has received more than 20 applications requesting for N67 billion grants under its Healthcare Sector Research and Development Intervention Scheme (HSRDIS).

    The CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele disclosed this during the inauguration of the Body of Experts (BoE) for Scheme in Abuja on Monday.

    Emefiele explained that the programme was designed to increase the nation’s Research and Development activities that would help support the development of Nigeria made vaccines, drugs and herbal medicines.

    He said through the provision of grants to biotechnological and pharmaceutical companies, institutions, researchers, and research institutes, the country’s domestic capacity to curb the spread of COVID-19 and other communicable or non-communicable diseases would be improved.

    According to him, it is expected that these grants will be channeled by these institutions to fund research and development of drugs, herbal medicines and vaccines for the control, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.

    “Providing grants for Research and Development in new or revalidation of drug molecules, phytomedicines and vaccines will help in the control, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases in Nigeria.

    “It will boost domestic manufacturing of validated drugs (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients or APIs), herbal medicines and vaccines for the control, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases in Nigeria.

    “And this will reduce the nation’s dependence on other countries for these drugs and vaccines.

    “It will also improve the capacity of the biotechnological and pharmaceutical companies, institutions, researchers, and research institutes in the development of approved Nigerian drugs, herbal medicines and vaccines for infectious diseases.

    “This will help to support the capacity of relevant health agencies toward attaining WHO Maturity Level three, a prerequisite for manufacturing of vaccines in Nigeria,” Emefiele said.

    In his remarks, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha while inaugurating the body of experts commended CBN for the intervention.

    Mustapha said COVID-19 had exposed the weakness of Nigeria’s health and governance systems as well as security infrastructure.

    He said the intervention by CBN had set the country on the path of recovery.

    “I often mention it that we do not have an opportunity of reconsidering the reconstruction of our health infrastructure in this country.

    “This is a golden opportunity that has availed itself. And it will be the greatest disappointment of our time and generation, if we do not seize the opportunity to redress all deficiencies we have in our health system and other infrastructure in this country,” he said.

    The SGF expressed confidence on members of the body of experts charged with the responsibility.

    He urged them to ensure that the process was driven by science, data and facts that would be available to them.

    He said this was necessary as the country was dealing with advanced negative effect of COVID-19, Nigeria would also set a new pace of its health care delivery system.

    The chairperson of the body of experts, also the director-general of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye lauded CBN for its interventions in the health sector.

    Adeyeye said the charge of the Body of Experts (BOE) was to review and evaluate submitted research proposals, as well as recommend the projects with high potential for financing.

    This is to ensure they contribute to development of the essential orthodox and herbal medicines and vaccines for infectious diseases.

    She added that the charge was to arrive at a rational scientific decision that justifies the goal.

    “Scientific research and development targets at the truth that is driven by a hypothesis which is laden with questions that will need to be answered.

    “The objectives are to build a body of knowledge that can be tested repeatedly with accuracy and to provide a description and explanation of natural events.

    ” It is also to predict conditions beyond the boundaries of existing possibilities in health, social or economic areas,” she explained. (NAN)