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Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has assured Nigeria and other African countries of access to COVID-19 vaccines as from the end of January through the first quarter of 2021.
A statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday quoted Okonjo-Iweala after a closed-door meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama in Abuja. Okonjo-Iweala is currently the African Union Special Envoy on mobilising international economic support for the continental fight against COVID-19.
According to her, the Pfizer vaccine and the AstraZeneca were presently being negotiated so that poor countries don’t have to stand in a queue behind rich countries. The former finance minister described Africans as blessed, for not having the same incidence rate of COVID-19 like other continents, but warned African nations against complacency.
“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,” she said.
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