Dr Osagie Ehanire

By Cecilia Ologunagba

Dr Osagie Ehanire, the Minister of Health has appointed a National Task Team on COVID-19 vaccine.

This team is tasked with the responsibility to acquire and deploy vaccines in the country.

The information is in a statement signed by Dr Adebimpe Adebiyi, the Director of Hospital Services in the Ministry.

She noted that members ter of health is the Chairman of the Task Team, while the minister of State for Health, Olorunimbe Mamora,
will serve as Alternate Chairman.

The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency will serve as Secretary and the permanent secretary
in the ministry will serve as a member.

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The ministers of Foreign Affairs, Finance, Budget and National Planning, Science and Technology will also serve as members.

Director Generals of Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and National Agency for
Food and Drug Administration and Control will be members.

Also, development partners such as World Health Organisation (WHO) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will be members,
among others.

The minister said that COVID-19 was real and enjoined the public to observe all protocols as prescribed by government

Ehanire had earlier at the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, spoke on the need for a task force on
vaccine to come on board.

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He said “now that vaccines are known to be close at hand, the ministry is taking measures toward vaccine security, for which an
18-man National COVID-19 Vaccine Task Team with seven Terms of Reference (ToR) will be inaugurated.

“The ToR will include generating strategies for acquisition, deployment and options for licenced production by Biovaccine Nigeria Ltd.

“Our options with WHO/GAVI led Covax facility remains our first line of engagement,” he added.

NAN