Nigeria, Other African Countries To Get COVID-19 Vaccines, Okonjo-Iweala Assures

Former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the
Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has assured Nigeria and other
African countries of access to COVID-19 vaccines in no distant
time.

Speaking after a closed-door meeting with the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama in Abuja, Okonjo-Iweala recalled
the international initiative with the World Health Organization,
with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI),
with Gavi, and the international community to try to get vaccines
to developing and poorer countries quickly in an affordable
fashion.

Recall that Okonjo-Iweala is the African Union Special Envoy to
Mobilise International Economic Support for Continental Fight
Against COVID-19 and Nigeria’s candidate for the Office of the
Director-General of the World Trade Organization.

Disclosing the possibility of getting the COVID-19 vaccines
quicker to poorer countries, Okonjo-Iweala said Africans were
blessed not to have the same incidence of COVID-19.

She added that even though the incidence was lower on the
continent, Africa should not feel so comfortable, while also
maintaining that the incidence was lower in Africa.

Okonjo-Iweala also said irrespective of the lower incidence, it
doesn’t mean that there are no people who have COVID-19 on the
continent.

“And as long as one person has it in the world, no one is safe.
And that is why poorer countries, lower middle-income countries
like Nigeria, need to get it as quickly as possible.

“So, starting end of January, into the first quarter of next
year, I think we will begin to see the vaccines getting to some of
our countries,” Okonjo-Iweala assured.

Okonjo-Iweala further recalled that a facility called the COVAX
facility has been developed, which had 186 countries.

She added that the side which is interested in serving the
poorer countries had 92 countries for which resources have been
raised to try and get the vaccines to them quickly.

“So, the Pfizer vaccine, the AstraZeneca, those are being
negotiated now so that poor countries don’t have to stand in line
behind rich countries.

“So, we hope they are starting by the end of January. We will be
able to reach these countries, including most of the African
countries, Nigeria included, will be able to get access to some of
these vaccines.

“Initially, it will be for frontline health workers, followed by
some other target groups – older people, those with underline
conditions and then, from there, the rest of the population.

“I think the COVAX facility can cover maybe 20, 23 percent of
the population by the end of next year,” Okonjo-Iweala also
said.

Former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the
Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has assured Nigeria and other
African countries of access to COVID-19 vaccines in no distant
time.

Speaking after a closed-door meeting with the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama in Abuja, Okonjo-Iweala recalled
the international initiative with the World Health Organization,
with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI),
with Gavi, and the international community to try to get vaccines
to developing and poorer countries quickly in an affordable
fashion.

Recall that Okonjo-Iweala is the African Union Special Envoy to
Mobilise International Economic Support for Continental Fight
Against COVID-19 and Nigeria’s candidate for the Office of the
Director-General of the World Trade Organization.

Disclosing the possibility of getting the COVID-19 vaccines
quicker to poorer countries, Okonjo-Iweala said Africans were
blessed not to have the same incidence of COVID-19.

She added that even though the incidence was lower on the
continent, Africa should not feel so comfortable, while also
maintaining that the incidence was lower in Africa.

Okonjo-Iweala also said irrespective of the lower incidence, it
doesn’t mean that there are no people who have COVID-19 on the
continent.

“And as long as one person has it in the world, no one is safe.
And that is why poorer countries, lower middle-income countries
like Nigeria, need to get it as quickly as possible.

“So, starting end of January, into the first quarter of next
year, I think we will begin to see the vaccines getting to some of
our countries,” Okonjo-Iweala assured.

Okonjo-Iweala further recalled that a facility called the COVAX
facility has been developed, which had 186 countries.

She added that the side which is interested in serving the
poorer countries had 92 countries for which resources have been
raised to try and get the vaccines to them quickly.

“So, the Pfizer vaccine, the AstraZeneca, those are being
negotiated now so that poor countries don’t have to stand in line
behind rich countries.

“So, we hope they are starting by the end of January. We will be
able to reach these countries, including most of the African
countries, Nigeria included, will be able to get access to some of
these vaccines.

“Initially, it will be for frontline health workers, followed by
some other target groups – older people, those with underline
conditions and then, from there, the rest of the population.

“I think the COVAX facility can cover maybe 20, 23 percent of
the population by the end of next year,” Okonjo-Iweala also
said.