Nigeria on Thursday recorded 45 cases of COVID-19. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Friday.
Twenty million COVID vaccine doses urgently needed in Africa
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says Africa needs at least 20 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine within the next six weeks to improve access for countries rolling out second phase vaccination.
Through the COVAX facility, many African countries have been able to access doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
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However, the Serum Institute of India (SII), the main supplier of the vaccine to COVAX, suspended export owing to the spike in COVID infections in India.
Speaking at a media briefing on Thursday, Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, said the vaccine doses are needed as a part of efforts to prevent a third wave of infections.
COVAX asks rich countries to share one billion vaccine doses
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COVAX has asked wealthy countries to share one billion doses of COVID vaccine with its facility in 2021 to be supplied to poor countries.
In a statement on Thursday, COVAX said the surge in cases in India has affected supply with a shortfall of 190 million doses.
“At no point in this pandemic have we seen such an acute need to look to the future challenges and not rest on the patchy achievements made so far,” the statement said.
“The terrible surge of the virus in India has had a severe impact on COVAX’s supply in the second quarter of this year, to the point whereby the end of June we will face a shortfall of 190 million doses.”
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“At least one billion doses could be shared by wealthy countries in 2021.”
California to offer $116 million, gifts to residents who get vaccinated against COVID
California has announced plans to give residents prizes if they get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Residents will be offered $116.5 million incentives, gifts cards including $15 million grand prizes.
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Another 30 people will win $50,000 each starting June 4, while two million people who get vaccinated will get $50 gift cards.
“We’re putting aside more resources than any other state in America and we’re making available the largest prizes of any state in America for those that seek to get vaccinated,” a statement from Gavin Newsom, the governor’s office, said.
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Nigeria records 45 COVID cases
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says 45 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in five states.
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This is according to the agency’s update for May 27.
Lagos topped the list with 27 new cases, followed by Rivers with 14 infections, Jigawa and Ekiti recorded one case respectively.
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No deaths were reported on Thursday, leaving the fatality toll at 2,071.
Also, six persons were discharged after recovering from the infection.
Since Nigeria’s index case in February 2020, 166,191 cases have been confirmed while 156,535 persons have been discharged.
Mexico approves J&J COVID vaccine for emergency use
Mexico has approved Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use.
Hugo Lopez-Gatell, deputy health minister, made the announcement on Thursday but said there was no immediate plan to acquire the vaccine for Mexico.
Speaking at a news briefing, he said the country has “a decent supply with the other five vaccines”.
COVID-19 IN NIGERIA
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