There has been a surge in Covid-19 cases, with the warning that there might be a second wave of the pandemic in the country. ABDULRAHMAN ZAKARIYAU in this report takes a look at the vaccine debate and the spike in cases across the country.
The vaccines
As drug companies and governments of most countries scramble to develop a Covid-19 vaccine, experts on vaccine production and distribution have questioned whether or not a vaccine could be in public hands sooner than expected. Surprisingly, BioNTech/Pfizer’s experimental coronavirus vaccine has succeeded in the final stage of clinical trials, the drug maker disclosed this milestone in the fight against the pandemic on October 5, 2020. The drug maker said the shot was found to be more than 90 per cent effective in preventing Covid-19, based on the 94 cases of the disease observed in the study.
Similarly, on November 16, pharmaceutical manufacturer Moderna announced that its mRNA vaccine had shown the efficacy of 94.5 per cent in Phase III trials involving more than 30,000 participants.
The latest team to release positive interim results is Swedish-British company, AstraZeneca, developers of a viral vector vaccine, who published their final report on the combined Phase II/ Phase III study on November 18 in The Lancet. Their trial involved a total of 560 healthy volunteers, with researchers finding that participants over 56 responded well to the vaccine. Overall, though, a similarly strong immune response was observed in all age groups after the boost vaccination.
Despite this development, many African countries, especially Nigeria, are yet to get any of these vaccines. The questions in the minds of many Nigerians include: Despite the spike in Covid-19 cases, when will Nigeria get the vaccines? Considering the economic situation in the country, can Nigeria afford the vaccines?
In a reaction, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, swiftly appointed a National Task Team on Covid-19 vaccine charged with the responsibility of acquiring and deploying vaccines across the country. According to a statement issued recently by the director of hospital services in the ministry, Dr. Adebimpe Adebiyi, the minister is the chairman of the team, while the Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora, will serve as alternate chairman. The executive director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) will serve as the secretary, while the permanent secretary in the ministry will serve as a member.
The ministers of foreign affairs, finance, budget and national planning, science and technology among others will also serve as members.
Minister’s admonition
Meanwhile, the federal government has asked Covid-19 treatment centres across the country to prepare to re-open and urged Nigerians to be prepared for a possible second wave. Months ago, some of the centres were shut after the country recorded a decline in cases.
Speaking at the briefing of the presidential task force on Covid-19 recently, the health minister disclosed that he had directed health workers to be on alert.
He said: “We are seeing the increase in the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the last few days, which we have frequently alluded to in recent times. This rightly suggests that we may just be on the verge of a second wave of this pandemic. Last week, we recorded 1843 against 1,235 two weeks before that and 1,126 the week before that.
“In the past 24 hours, 474 new confirmed cases and 2 deaths were recorded, with an indication that this week’s figure will beat last week’s. As at today, we have crossed 70,000 marks with a total of 70,669 confirmed cases of which 65,242 have been treated and discharged. Sadly the number of deaths has now reached 1184 as against 1,167 two weeks before.
“Everyone of us has a role to play in the effort to prevent the explosive spread of this infection in Nigeria. While we strive for the best, we must prepare for a possible second wave which we must ensure, does not get to be worse than what we have seen so far, judging from what we observe in other countries.”
Global Health Institute’s warning
A recent study has revealed that Nigeria and other low-income nations might lose access to Covid-19 vaccine. The study, published by a Global health Innovation Centre, Duke, assessed by Blueprint Weekend, also showed that high-income countries and a few middle-income ones with manufacturing capacity have already purchased nearly 3.8 billion doses, with options for another five billion.
The Launch and Scale analysis revealed that “while it will likely take three to four years to manufacture enough vaccines to cover the world’s population, nearly four billion doses of Covid-19 vaccine candidates are already part of bilateral advance purchasing deals involving mainly high-income countries, vaccine developers and global vaccine manufacturers. Another five billion doses are the subject of negotiations among these same parties that have yet to be finalised.”
It also found that “only enough doses to cover 250 million people have been confirmed as purchased thus far by COVAX, a global effort involving both wealthy and poor countries that has promised equal access to Covid-19 vaccines globally, regardless of income levels.”
It also found that “only enough doses to cover 250 million people have been confirmed as purchased thus far by COVAX, a global effort involving both wealthy and poor countries that has promised equal access to Covid-19 vaccines globally, regardless of income levels.”
The study partly read: “Several COVAX signatories, including the United Kingdom (UK), the European Union (EU) and Canada, are effectively undermining the pact by negotiating ‘side deals’ for large vaccine shipments that will result in a smaller piece of the pie available for equitable global allocation. Yet, the analysis shows that not a single low-income country has made a direct agreement to purchase vaccines, suggesting that low-income countries will be limited to the COVAX pact to secure vaccines.
“For example, the researchers found that Ethiopia, Africa’s second-largest country, is counting on COVAX for enough vaccines to cover 20 per cent of its population and has no avenues to secure additional doses. But overall, the research points to a dismal conclusion: that most people in low-income countries will be waiting until 2024 for Covid-19 vaccinations if high-income countries keep engaging in what some are calling ‘vaccinationalism.’
“There are estimates that to meet its goals of vaccinating at least 20 per cent of member countries, COVAX would need at least 1.14 billion doses of a single-dose vaccine and twice that amount for a two-dose regimen. Currently, most Covid-19 vaccine candidates require two doses.”
FG’s assurances]
In the meantime, the federal government says it is working on getting access to the vaccines as soon as they become available. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, disclosed this recently during a briefing of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 in Abuja. Mustapha, who is also the chairman of the PTF, said the task force was escalating its surveillance and testing drive to ensure that the spread of the virus was effectively contained during the festive season.
“There have been a lot of positive developments around the world regarding vaccines. This is a significant achievement. However, before it becomes available, we urge you to continue to comply with the non-pharmaceutical interventions.]
“The PTF is already working on the strategy for gaining access to the vaccine as soon as they are available,” he said.
WHO, partners’ lifeline
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and key partners have unveiled a plan to purchase two billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines for the highest risk populations of the world. The global health body and its partners anticipate that by the end of 2021, the doses could be delivered to countries to vaccinate their high-risk individuals who include health care workers, people over the age of 65, and other adults that suffer from conditions such as diabetes.
The WHO and its partners – the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance – estimate it will cost $18.1 billion to deliver on the plan. The effort is one pillar of the WHO’s effort to ensure all countries have access to Covid-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics, called the ACT Accelerator, short for Access to Covid-19 Tools.
An expert’s advice
In his take, a medical doctor, Ibrahim Idris, said even with discoveries of effective Covid-19 vaccines, there is still the need for Nigerians to continue to observe all safety protocols.
Dr. Idris, in a phone chat with this reporter, said: “I have said over and over again that coronavirus will be here with us for a long time. But, unfortunately, almost every one of us has lowered their guards with the belief that it’s no longer as dangerous as it was portrayed or because of the discovered vaccines.
“This is wrong. With or without vaccines will need to adhere to all the public safety protocols. The best vaccine is what we have been doing before now, that kept most of us safe. We should avoid crowded places, wear a facemask, maintain physical distancing and wash our hands frequently in running water.
“If you observe, most Nigerians have thrown caution to the winds. Most of them now behave as if they are immune to Covid-19. And this explains why there has been a spike in Covid-19 cases in Nigeria.
“Yes, there are so many success stories about vaccines, but is there anyone available in Nigeria now? Of course, there is none. We have heard that the government is making efforts to get the vaccines, but let us not deceive ourselves because this will take a year or more before we get the vaccines in this part of the world.
This is because the demand for it is very high because coronavirus is a global pandemic and the highly rich countries that have the resources will continue to buy the available few for their citizens before countries like Nigeria will have access to them.
“My advice is that, yes there is a vaccine, but until it is made affordable and accessible we all need to continue to adhere to all Covid-19 safety protocols. We need to use facemasks all the time, keep physical distance, wash our hands frequently, avoid unnecessary travels and take all necessary cautions because our lives depend on it for now.”
