Former Federal Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has revealed that African countries will get access to the COVID-19 vaccine from the end of January 2021.
According to her, the distribution of the vacc ine in Africa will continue throughout the first quarter of 2021.
She disclosed this in a meeting with the Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama. After the meeting, the ministry released a statement had Okonjo-Iweala saying;
“So, the Pfizer vaccine, the AstraZeneca, those are being negotiated now so that poor countries don’t have to stand in line behind rich countries.
So, we hope they are starting by the end of January. We will be able to reach these countries, including most of the African countries, Nigeria included, will be able to get access to some of these vaccines.
Initially, it will be for frontline health workers, followed by some other target groups – older people, those with underlying conditions, and then, from there, the rest of the population. I think the COVAX facility can cover maybe 20-23 percent of the population by the end of next year.”
