Health minister wants local vaccine production

The minister of health, Prof. Isaac Adewole has called on pharmaceutical manufacturers in the country to invest in the local production of vaccines.

He made the call yesterday during the roundtable stakeholders meeting on local vaccine production in Nigeria in Abuja.

Represented by the minister of state, Dr Osagie Ehanire, he said with an economy like ours, the federal government will support private organizations that are interested in investing in local vaccine production.

Executive director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, (NPHCDA), Dr. Ardo Mohammed, said despite significant gains in routine immunization coverage, Nigeria continues to suffer needless loss of lives amongst under-five children and women of childbearing age from vaccine preventable deaths.

He said the glorious days of vaccine production though temporarily on hold have given the country cause to think outside the box to rejuvenate the vaccine manufacturing project through public private partnership where private manufacturers are empowered to drive the process while government creates enabling environment.

Country Lead IVAC, Chizoba Wonodi, said beyond health benefits, the country stands to gain economically and commercially from local vaccine production adding that it will be beneficial to the African continent as well.