The Federal governments efforts to attain local vaccine production and reduce dependence on imported vaccines have been significantly boosted with the launch of the National Plan for Vaccine Research and Development and Local Production on Friday.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, while highlighting the anticipated significance of the project in facilitating the operationalization of vaccine development, emphasized that it would provide a blueprint for the entire process of vaccine production within the country.
Alausa observed that the National Plan was meticulously crafted through an innovative bottom-up methodology, ensuring that the results of the efforts would be highly beneficial in complementing the National Vaccine Policy.
During the unveiling of the Plan in Abuja on Friday, Alausa revealed that the project was the result of a year-long collaboration between the European Union, the Bulgarian Government, and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) on behalf of the Nigerian Government.
Alausa applauded the NIPRD for spearheading the project and expressed confidence that with the support of both local and international partners, Nigerias endeavors in thematic areas would swiftly progress.