The African Export-Import Bank, which facilitated the procurement of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, says the vaccine costs Nigeria $7.50 as against $10 per dose.
The bank’s Regional Chief Operating Officer, Abdoulaye Kone, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen, on Thursday, in Abuja, said that the country would be procuring about 29,850,000 doses, through the African Union’s African Vaccine Acquisition Trust.
Following the receipt of the shipment of 177,600 doses on Thursday, Nigeria becomes one of the earliest beneficiaries of the supply deal agreed in March 2021 to procure 220 million doses for the continent, with the potential to order another 180 million.
READ ALSO: Shehu Shagari’s widow Hadiza dies of COVID-19
The single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine made by J&J is highly effective in preventing severe illness and death from the Delta and Beta variants of the coronavirus, data from a clinical trial in South Africa indicated.
Kone said that with the first shipment of 177, 600 doses of the J&J vaccines, Nigeria would be receiving its over two million vaccines doses in batches.
“In August, a total of 1, 173 132 doses of J&J first batch of 176 000 doses and second batch 997 132 doses. Then deliveries will continue every month.
“Afreximbank is delighted to be a part of this successful breakthrough in Africa. This was also possible through our partners – Africa Medical Supplies Platform, AVAT, Africa Center for Disease Control & Prevention, and the AU for their invaluable contribution to achieving this milestone,” he stated.
Newsmen report that the AVAT was established by the African COVID-19 Vaccine Acquisition Task Team, set up in November 2020 under the AU chairmanship of President Cyril Ramaphosa of the Republic of South Africa.
It is part of the AU’s COVID-19 Vaccine Development and Access Strategy, with its goal of vaccinating at least 60 per cent of the African population with safe and efficacious vaccines against COVID-19.
The agreement with J&J was made possible through a USD two billion facility provided by Afreximbank, who are also the Financial and Transaction Advisers, guarantors, instalment payment advisers and payment agents.
Support was provided by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa which coordinated the alignment of the AU Ministers of Finance on the financing arrangements.
