FG reviews draft policy on local vaccine production

The Federal Government has examined the draft National Plan for Vaccine Research and Development and Manufacturing in the country.

This is aimed at accelerating local vaccine manufacturing and stopping vaccine importation.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said that the Federal Government’s efforts to start local vaccine production over the years have started to pay off while speaking at the review and validation meeting, organised by the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), in Abuja at the weekend.

The Minister, who was represented by Dr. David Atuwo, said that the review and validation meeting was appropriate, adding that it gave critical stakeholders and policymakers the chance to address healthcare issues as well as boost the entry of the pharmaceutical sector into the larger African market.

He said review and validation of the draft roadmap would also speed up the achievement of the vaccine policy objectives of the federal government.

He said, “The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare will continue to provide the necessary oversight and work with NIPRD, partners, and stakeholders at the various levels to ensure that the desired results of sustainable vaccine R&D and local production in Nigeria are achieved.”

The Director General of NIPRD, Dr. Obi Adigwe, said that the meeting was the first step to unlocking the health value chain plan, which would not only save lives but also tackle critical socio-economic indices such as job creation, capacity building, revenue generation, and technology transfer.