Nigeria didn’t Receive COVID-19 Vaccine from Russia, Says Health Ministry

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Nigeria didn't Receive COVID-19 Vaccine from Russia, says Health Ministry
Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire (centre) with other directors of the FMoH during the visit of the Russian Ambassador to Nigeria. Photo: Facebook

The Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) has stated categorically that the Russian Federation’s Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Alexey L. Shebarshin did not give Nigeria the much publicised COVID-19 vaccine.

It said what was handed over to the ministers of health on Friday was an aide memoir to enable the Nigerian team study and get ready for further researches, patronage and application.

The Ministry’s Director of Information, Media, and Public Relations, Olujimi Oyetomi had earlier erroneously released a press statement indicating that the Russian ambassador had brought some COVID-19 vaccine samples to Nigeria.

In a signed statement titled :”Russian Federation Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Alexey L. Shebarshin on courtesy visit to Nigeria’s Health Ministers, Russian-made COVID-19 Vaccine finally here”, the ministry stated in error that Russian COVID-19 vaccine has been handed over  to health authorities.

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It was planned to be  quickly sent to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control as well as the Nigeria Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, amongst other agencies, for review and possible validation.

However, the ministry turned around in less than 24 hours to mention that it did not receive COVID-19 vaccine from Russia.

It was said that the Russian-made COVID-19 vaccine being still in the custody of the Russian Federation’s Embassy in Nigeria, is yet to be handed over to Nigerian authorities.

Read the corrected press release below:

FMOH Press Correction
Friday, 4th September, 2020

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CLARIFICATION ON RUSSIAN-MADE COVID-19 VACCINE

Following an earlier press release made today, Friday, 4th September, 2020 on the courtesy visit by the Russian Federation’s Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Alexey L. Shebarshin to the Nigeria’s Health Ministers to hand over an aide memoire on the recently announced Russian-made COVID-19 vaccine, the Ministry’s Media and Public Relations Unit wishes to correct the impression that the Russian-made COVID-19 Vaccine has been handed over to the Health authorities in Nigeria.

What was handed over was an aide memoir to enable the Nigerian team study and get ready for further researches, patronage and application.

The Russian-made COVID-19 vaccine being still in the custody of the Russian Federation’s Embassy in Nigeria, we have been corrected, to see it as still being with the Russians and not with the Nigerian health authorities.

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Signed:
Olujimi Oyetomi,
Director, Information, Media and Public Relations

 

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