The announcement by His Excellency, Cui Jianchun, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Nigeria, that his country is considering working with Nigeria to produce Chinese-made vaccines locally is a positive development.
The announcement was made after the transfer of 470, 000 doses of Chinese-manufactured vaccinations to Nigeria earlier this year.
China is known to produce at least two vaccines: the Sinopharm, which has an “Efficacy for symptomatic and hospitalised disease [of] 79 percent,” according to the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Sinovac, which “Prevented symptomatic disease in 51% of those vaccinated and severe COVID-19 and hospitalisation in 100% of the studied population,” according to WHO.
On paper, the Chinese vaccination can be kept at 2-8 degrees Celsius in a conventional refrigerator, but Moderna vaccines must be kept at -20 degrees Celsius and Pfizer’s vaccine at -70 degrees Celsius. The conclusion is that vaccines developed in China will be easier to store in normal refrigerators in developing nations like Nigeria.
It should be remembered that at the start of the outbreak last year, there was a reported agreement for 14 Chinese health workers to arrive in Nigeria to assist in the fight against the pandemic.
While the Chinese health personnel were photographed alongside their equipment at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport when they arrived in Abuja, nothing was heard of them after that. Whatever role they had in the fight against COVID, as well as their ultimate goal in Nigeria, has remained a mystery.
To avoid a repeat of this situation, the Nigerian government must carefully consider whatever offer its Chinese counterpart makes. The conditions of the offer must be clear, and they should be scrutinised by the competent authorities and parliamentary oversight bodies.
Nigeria must also assure that the offer would significantly improve local scientists and researchers’ scientific and technical ability, enhance employment prospects for Nigerians, and ensure that the Nigerians inducted into the programme will have safe working conditions.
Most importantly, Nigeria must first confirm the efficacy and suitability of the vaccines to be produced for usage in the country.
There have been questions about the Chinese vaccines’ long-term efficacy, with Malaysia and Thailand, for example, stating in July that they will phase out the vaccines on this basis. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) should be brought together to ensure that Nigerians’ health and safety are protected by global best practices and due diligence.
The vaccines must be compatible with the country’s and its residents’ environmental and physiological characteristics.
Local research institutes should also be given avenues to fully participate in the partnership, not only to improve their competence and familiarise them with recent innovations in the field, but also to ensure that they can share knowledge and contribute significantly to the adaptation of vaccines to the country’s needs.
Nigeria, despite having several research institutes on its books, including the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), and the National Institute for Medical Research (NMR), has not fully exploited the opportunities to develop vaccines locally or in collaboration with other governments and private companies.
In light of this, the government of the People’s Republic of China’s offer gives an opportunity to take advantage of the international cooperation required to combat the global pandemic while also strengthening the capacity of developing nations to prepare for future events.
On the other hand, Nigeria should explore ways to participate in this arrangement as a contributing partner. While China will undoubtedly take the lead, Nigeria’s image depends on the country’s ability to avoid being a passive partner. It must thus contribute something to the table so that, in the coming years, it can play a similar role in assisting other African countries in their development. Science and technology, as well as political declarations, are used to achieve this goal.
