FG Set To Domesticate Vaccine Production

As part of efforts aimed at ensuring constant availability of routine vaccines in the country, President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the local production of vaccines with the take-off of Biovaccines Nigeria Limited, a joint venture company between the federal government and May & Baker Nigeria Plc.  
This move, experts believe, is expected to actualise the goal of meeting and probably, surpassing the nation’s local vaccine production capacity through the commissioning of a world-class vaccine plant at which production of Yellow Fever vaccine is expected to commence within  the  next   18 months.
LEADERSHIP   gathered that the development was hinged on the take-off of Biovaccines Nigeria Limited - the joint venture company that was initially established in 2007 through a Joint Venture Agreement, JVA, between Federal Government and    May & Baker Nigeria Plc.  
Speaking to newsmen, Nnamdi Okafor, managing director/chief executive officer, May & Baker Nigeria Plc, revealed that JVA is a special purpose vehicle to bridge supply gaps for vaccines for routine immunisations in Nigeria such as BCG (Bacillus Calmette Guerin), HBV I, II, III (hepatitis B), DTP I, II, III (Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertusis), OPV I, II, III (Oral Polio Vaccine), measles and Yellow Fever.
Commenting on the joint venture, the MD said, “Our job is to revive that entity using our knowledge, expertise and resources to produce and distribute vaccines in Nigeria once again and consequently end the era of 100 percent dependence on foreign vaccine producers to immunise our citizens against vaccine preventable diseases that ravage our society.”  
According to him, required technical expertise has been acquired and the take-off of the company will be concluded with the appointment of new directors by the partners.
“Our major priority now is to commence local vaccines production as soon as possible.   The Biovaccines business plan is being reviewed and will be presented to the Board as soon the latter is constituted.   We plan to commence construction of a new vaccine plant at the new site in Ota, Ogun State, with a view to starting production of Yellow Fever vaccines within 18 months.”
Other benefits of the plant include guaranteed availability of quality, safe and affordable vaccine in the country, employment for hundreds of Nigerians and opportunity to turn a moribund federal cost centre into a profitable investment generating revenue.
Okafor maintained that by going into local vaccine production, the nation would be putting the health security of her citizens in the hands of Nigerians.
“Immunisation is a national health security issue. No country can afford to leave the health security of her citizens in the hands of foreign organisations. The venture would also save Nigeria substantial savings in foreign exchange and logistics costs of vaccine importation. Currently, the federal government spends over N6billion to import vaccines annually, excluding what is imported by states and local governments,” he disclosed.
Local vaccine production, Okafor pointed out, would ensure Nigeria’s participation in an industry that is at the cutting edge of science by helping to transfer technology to Nigeria and build capacity for primary healthcare delivery.
In the meantime, the introduction of pentavalent vaccine into Nigeria is estimated to save the lives of, at least, 30,000 children annually, from death as a result of vaccine preventable disorders.
Launched with support from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) Alliance, the pentavalent vaccine protects against five deadly diseases and GAVI estimates that 72 GAVI-eligible countries will be using this life-saving vaccine by 2013 in their routine immunisation systems.
GAVI is a global health partnership between the private and public sectors, committed to the mission of saving children’s lives and protecting people’s health by increasing access to immunisation in poor countries.
According to recent reports, Nigeria is highly strategic for GAVI which aims to reach the final 20 percent of the world’s children who still do not have access to routine immunisation. The nation accounts for an estimated 1.7 million of the 19.3 million children who did not receive routine immunisation in 2010. In 2013, Nigeria is set to introduce pneumococcal vaccines, helping to protect against pneumonia, still, the world’s biggest killer of children under the age of five. 
When the pentavalent and pneumococcal vaccines are fully rolled out, the nation’s mortality rate is expected to drop by an estimated 17 percent, preventing some 30 000 child deaths annually. The Gates Foundation and the British Government have agreed to match contributions to GAVI from corporations, foundations, their customers, employees, business partners and members to raise US$ 260 million for immunisation through 2015.