The Federal Ministry of Health has disclosed that since the development of COVID-19 vaccines are fast becoming a reality, it will inaugurate an 18-man National COVID-19 Vaccine Task Team as part of its measure to ensure vaccine security against the virus in the country.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, who made this known on Monday at the presidential task force briefing on covid-19 in Abuja, revealed that the committee which will be saddled with seven Terms of Reference will be inaugurated this week.
“The TOR will include generating strategies for acquisition, deployment and options for licensed production by Biovaccine Nigeria Ltd.
“Our options with WHO/GAVI led Covax facility remain our first line of engagement,” the minister said.
Dr. Ehanire stated that the country as at 23rd of November, 2020 had recorded 66,383 COVID-19 cases from 743,298 samples tested so far, with 62,076 persons successfully treated and discharged, but have sadly lost 1167 people.
He emphasized that the country is not yet where it ought to be in terms of testing rate, as it will continue to engage states to strengthen active case finding and testing, since the commitment is to lower case fatality rate to less than 1% in order to save more lives from covid-19.
“We are by no means out of the woods and must not become complacent.
“Citizens with symptoms suggestive of COVID or those who had contact with confirmed COVID patients should present themselves for testing and, if positive, comply with instructions for treatment.” he said.
Ehanire said that the government is keeping vigilance, with regard to the exploding numbers of covid cases in Europe and America by strengthening our capacity for treatment, by ensuring health workers are kept updated and ensuring our health facilities have adequate supplies of needed materials.
The government is also reviewing the entry protocols at the borders to reduce risks of COVID-19 importation by sealing gaps in present protocol and responding to emerging threats.
The minister also advised against non-essential travel to high burden countries, due to increased risk of exposure to infection, especially of persons with known co-morbidities, adding that restrictions will be relaxed once more is known about protecting selves from infection.
He further explained that the reported “strange deaths in Delta, Enugu, Ebonyi Benue Bauchi and Kogi, have turned out to be yellow fever outbreak, as confirmed by NCDC, who are responding professionally with Rapid Response Teams to the outbreak.
“Of 586 suspected cases, 40 were confirmed in laboratory tests, with 10 deaths as at last week,” he disclosed.
