COVID-19: Nigeria to test vaccine approved by Putin

The Federal Government on Friday says it is ready to test the Covid-19 vaccine approved by President Putin of Russia to treat the novel Coronavirus pandemic. Russia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Alexey Shebarshin, earlier today had a meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, when he visited the Ministry of Health in Abuja. The ministry […]

The Federal Government on Friday says it is ready to test the Covid-19 vaccine approved by President Putin of Russia to treat the novel Coronavirus pandemic.

Russia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Alexey Shebarshin, earlier today had a meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, when he visited the Ministry of Health in Abuja.

The ministry in a tweet says “It is exploring all knowledge in terms of therapeutics & vaccines”.

Osagie says the reason for it’s expression of interest for the COVID-19 vaccine will afford the ministry the opportunity to work elaborately.

The Russian government had earlier announced in August that it has produced a vaccine to cure the novel COVID-19 vaccine adding that it will begin mass vaccinations against the virus in October.

Russian scientists has said early-stage trials of the vaccine has been completed and the results have been successful.

The vaccine uses adapted strains of the adenovirus, a virus that usually causes common cold, to trigger immune response.

The vaccine has however been approved before the phase-three trial.

Experts consider the phase-three trial as an important part of the testing process.

Upon this, the Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko, on Tuesday said the vaccine has “proven to be highly effective and safe”.

Murashko lauded the discovery of the vaccine noting that it is a big step towards “humankind victory” over Covid-19.

The Russian vaccine is not among the World Health Organization (WHO) list of six vaccines that has gotten to phase three clinical trials, involving a widespread testing in humans.