WHO Excludes Nigeria From Pfizer Vaccine Distribution, Allocates 16m Doses Of Another Vaccine

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has explained why Nigeria was not included among the countries to receive the Pfizer vaccine in Africa.

The organisation recommended temperature for the Pfizer vaccine is -70 degree Celsius even during transportation for the vaccine to be effective.

Recall, Worldtopnewsng.com had reported that Nigeria was disqualified from Global vaccine bid over poor power supply in the country and storage facility for the vaccine.

Regional Director of the WHO, Matshidiso Moeti, had said only four out of 13 interested African countries were shortlisted to receive the Pfizer vaccines through COVAX, a mechanism backed by WHO for distributing vaccines to the developing world.

Moeti who spoke at a press briefing on COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Africa on Thursday, said the countries are Cape Verde, Rwanda, South Africa & Tunisia.

READ ALSO: WHO Disqualifies Nigeria From Global Vaccine Bid Over Poor Power Supply & Storage Facility

She noted that they were picked following evaluations by a multi-agency committee based on current mortality rates, new cases and trends, and the capacity to handle the ultra-cold chain needs of the vaccine.

But speaking during a briefing on Saturday in Abuja, WHO Country Representative, Dr Wondimagegnehu Alemu, said the global health body did not disqualify Nigeria for any reason.

He explained that COVAX decided to replace the initial 100,000 doses of Pfizer with 16 million doses of the Astrazeneca vaccine.

He stated that issues around population, fatalities from COVID-19 were some of the considerations the Selection Committee used in choosing which country received which vaccine.

Alemu revealed that Nigeria will receive the Pfizer vaccine as supplies increases, adding that the Astrazeneca vaccine, which is more in supply, will meet more of the needs in Nigeria.