The Federal Government on Friday said it received an “aide memoire” on the recently developed Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine.

Russia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Alexey Shebarshin, delivered the document to the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, during a visit to the ministry in Abuja.

Also present at the event were the Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora; top management of the Health Ministry and other Nigerian Scientists.

A statement signed by the ministry’s Director of Information, Media, and Public Relations, Olujimi Oyetomi, had said the Federal Government received samples of Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine with an aide memoire which “explains the details for Nigerian teams to study and get ready for further researches, patronage and application.”

The statement was titled, ‘Russian Federation Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Alexey L. Shebarshin on courtesy visit to Nigeria’s Health Ministers, Russian-made COVID-19 Vaccine finally here.’

“The consensus of decision reached was to quickly refer the vaccine to the necessary professional institutes and agencies of the Federal Ministry of Health beginning with NAFDAC (National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control), NIPRD (Nigeria Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development), and for a team of Scientists and advisors to the Ministry to get to work on possible patronage of the Russian Vaccine to alleviate the plight of Nigerians under the COVID-19 pandemic,” Oyetomi wrote.

However, in a follow-up statement titled, ‘Clarifications on Russian-made COVID-19 Vaccine’, Oyetomi recanted and said it was only an aide memoire that was received by the ministry.

The statement read, “Following an earlier press release made today, Friday, 4th September, 2020 on the courtesy visit by the Russian Federation’s Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Alexey L. Shebarshin to Nigeria’s Health Ministers to hand over an aide memoire on the recently announced Russian-made COVID-19 vaccine, the Ministry’s Media and Public Relations Unit wishes to correct the impression that the Russian-made COVID-19 vaccine has been handed over to the health authorities in Nigeria.

“What was handed over was an aide memoir to enable the Nigerian team study and get ready for further researches, patronage and application.

“The Russian-made COVID-19 vaccine being still in the custody of the Russian Federation’s Embassy in Nigeria, we have been corrected, to see it as still being with the Russians and not with the Nigerian health authorities.”

The PUNCH had earlier reported that Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, said his country approved a vaccine offering “sustainable immunity” against the lethal coronavirus.

The World Health Organisation had subsequently said it would review the effectiveness of the vaccine.

The minister had said Nigeria was working with the WHO for the allocation of 2 billion vaccine doses as soon as they are available.

The need for a vaccine has become more urgent globally and nationally with Nigeria recording over 50,000 COVID-19 infections and over 1,000 associated fatalities, according to the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control.

By Kayode Oyero