The Federal Government has taken steps to expedite local vaccine manufacturing and halt vaccine importation by reviewing and validating the draft National Plan for Vaccine R&D and Manufacturing in Nigeria. The plan, which was developed in 2021, is the first of its kind in Africa, and it highlights the roles of relevant stakeholders in the vaccine landscape. The meeting was organised by the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) in Abuja over the weekend. The review and validation of the draft roadmap, the minister stressed, will fast-track the achievement of the vaccine policy objectives of the federal government. Speaking on the Federal Government’s level of preparation to kick-start local vaccine manufacturing, the Minister disclosed: “Despite the various challenges militating against local production of vaccines, I want to state that appreciable progress has been achieved in these past few years.

Source: Nigerian Tribune November 26, 2023 15:13 UTC