Nigerian scientists develops two potential vaccines for coronavirus

The vice chancellor, Precious Cornerstone University (PCU), Ibadan, Professor  Kola Oloke  Monday hinted that some Nigerian scientists has developed two potential vaccines that could prevent coronavirus pandemic .

Professor Oloke who is the coordinator of the group, in a statement jointly signed by the Nigerian scientists made available to newsmen in Ibadan said the scientists are from different institutions across the country.

The Nigerian scientists in the statement stated that the research work has reached an advanced stage of animal trial experiment which would help to establish the veracity and efficacy of the vaccines for the prevention of the dreaded disease.

Emphasising that they were spurred into action by the need to rise to the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, the Nigerian scientists noted that the animal trial experiment of the vaccine is to commence any moment from now, 

“We have worked extensively by exploring the SARS-CoV-2 genome from African countries to select the best possible potential vaccine candidates. After trying out some selected processes of vaccine development, we have been able to choose the best potential vaccine candidates for the SARS-CoV -2 and they have made the possible latent vaccine constructs,”  the scientists  said

The team pointed out that though the research was a collaborative efforts of a number of scientists from different institutions/disciplines in the country, it was carried out at Genomics Research Hub of Helix Biogen Consult in Ogbomoso   and jointly funded by Trinity Immunoefficient Laboratory and Helix Biogen Consult owned by Dr Kolawole Oladipo.

In the statement, the scientists charged other researchers in Africa to rise up to the challenge offered by the period by coming up with more solutions, saying,  “the understanding of genetic diversity/variability of the SARS-CoV-2 in Africa, is a very urgent assignment.”