HealthNews

COVID-19: DG Nigerian Institute of Medical Research Raises Alarm Over Lack of Storage For Vaccines

0
2C6731C6 BA43 4A03 8C4D 1A08A9F8E999
2C6731C6 BA43 4A03 8C4D 1A08A9F8E999

By Admin

Following the imminent arrival of COVID-19 Pfizer vaccines to Nigeria later in the week, the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), has revealed that there is not enough space at the moment to store the vaccines.

This was revealed in a statement issued by the Director-General of NIMR, Prof. Babatunde Salako, during an interview on Saturday, January 16.

Salako revealed that Nigeria had freezers in different parts of the country to store the Pfizer vaccines at-70 degrees centigrade.

However, the NIMR DG stated that most of these freezers were occupied and were storing medical supplies which also need to be stored at a low temperature.

He said, “Our facilities can hold Pfizer vaccines at -70 degrees but we don’t have enough of such freezers, and the ones we have are even full at the moment. We even just got one that we have yet to install but how many samples can it even hold?

Also Read:  COVID-19: FG Reintroduces Restrictions In All 36 States

“Even if we rearrange things, I doubt if we can store more than a few hundred or thousands.”

When asked if other facilities besides NIMR could hold such vaccines, he said, “There are many -80 freezers around in the research institutes and universities but the point is that many of them have samples inside them. So, even if we evacuate, I don’t think we will all be able to do more than a few thousands.”

Salako said storage was the minor problem; adding that the major challenge would be how to transport the vaccines at the temperature of-70 to rural areas.

Also Read:  COVID-19 Test: Presidential Committee Deactivates Passports Of 200 Defaulters

In addition, Nigeria may need to buy other brands that do not require such low temperatures as Pfizer, the NIMR boss explained

Salako further noted that other brands like Oxford/AstraZeneca could be stored at normal freezer temperature; while the Russian vaccine could also be stored at a temperature not as low as Pfizer.

He said, “The problem is not just about storing vaccines; but moving it to the rural areas and maintaining that same temperature. For example, if you land in Lagos and you store it at -70 and it has to be transported over the creek somewhere; how do you move them? There are other ways but they will be very costly. They can store them with liquid nitrogen or even dry ice; but it will cost a lot of money.

Also Read:  Robbers Attack Bullion Van In Delta

“AstraZeneca would have been better because it would stay at normal freeze temperature; and I think even Russian vaccines can be stored at the same temperature; but I think the government is going with Pfizer because the World Health Organisation has given it an emergency approval.

“But I think all the vaccines are now being deployed in many countries. So, we can do all of them rather than do just one considering the storage capacity for Pfizer. Even the government knows that we don’t have enough space but we can be taken in batches.”

Accurate News Nigeria chat
accuratenewsng

Kwara APC crisis: Senator Ashiru sues for peace

Previous article

SAD: Hon. Alajagusi Grieve Over Death of APC Stalwart in Asa LG

Next article

You may also like

Comments

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in Health