Emirates, Turkish Cargo fly Covid-19 vaccines to Nigeria, DRC
After Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria received around 3.94 million Covid-19 vaccines and 1.7 million for Democratic Republic of Congo from COVAX.
- Vaccines touched Kinshasa through a Turkish Cargo flight.
- Emirates carried the shipment to Abuja.
March 03, 2021: After Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria received around 3.94 million Covid-19 vaccines and 1.7 million for Democratic Republic of Congo from COVAX, an initiative led by Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, WHO and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) with UNICEF as implementing partner.
An Emirates flight carried the shipment to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. It had Oxford/AstraZenica doses, the UN and Nigeria's health agency added. While vaccines touched Kinshasa through a Turkish Cargo flight.
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The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India that arrived in Nigeria are the first of 16 million doses that Covax plans to deliver over the coming months to the country of 200 million people.
The Nigerian government said it hoped to vaccinate at least 70 percent of its adult population over the next two years.
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Last week, Ghana and Ivory Coast received vaccines from COVAX.