Daily COVID Tracker: Nigeria reports 466 infections in 13 states, 186 recoveries

Nigeria on Friday recorded 466 COVID-19 infections. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Saturday. 

Germany recommends COVID vaccination for pregnant women

The Permanent Vaccination Commission (STIKO), Germany’s vaccine advisory body, has recommended that women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should be vaccinated with mRNA-based COVID-19 shots.

According to the guidance released on Friday, STIKO advised women to receive two doses of the vaccine from the second trimester of pregnancy.

“After a detailed consultation and evaluation of the available evidence, the STIKO is now in a new draft resolution in favour of COVID-19 vaccination of previously unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated pregnant women from the 2nd trimester of pregnancy and of unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated breastfeeding women with two doses of an mRNA vaccine the end,” the guidance reads.

“In addition, the STIKO expressly recommends vaccination against COVID-19 to all persons of childbearing age who are not yet or incompletely vaccinated, so that there is very good protection against this disease before the onset of pregnancy.”

Italy warns against use of unlicensed drugs to treat COVID-19

The Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) has warned citizens against using unlicensed antiviral drugs as a COVID-19 therapy.

The medicines regulator said there are requests to import Parvulan, an antiviral drug used as a treatment for Herpes Zoster, which is not approved in Italy but legally registered and marketed in Brazil, adding that the drug has potential health risks.

“The use of the drug Parvulan in the prophylaxis of Sars-COV-2 infection is not supported by the slightest evidence, under the profile of efficacy and safety”, the agency said in a statement.

“The possible use of the drug as a substitute for authorised vaccines, therefore, represents a potential danger to human health.”

Sinovac to set up COVID vaccine production facility in Africa

China Sinovac Biotech says plans are on to set up its production facility in South Africa to supply the continent with COVID vaccines.

Hilton Klein, chief executive officer (CEO) of Numolux Group, disclosed this on Friday.

“This clinical trial is a precursor to the establishment of a South African vaccine manufacturing facility partnered by Sinovac and Numolux Group that will cover the entire spectrum of vaccinations beyond just the COVID-19 response,” Klein said.

“We are in talks with Sinovac to set up a vaccine manufacturing facility. A phase one where we will do bottling and labelling so that we can get vaccines out to the people of Africa as soon as possible.”

Nigeria records 466 COVID cases

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says 466 cases of coronavirus were reported on Friday.

The agency said the infections were logged in 12 states and the federal capital territory (FCT).

Lagos recorded the highest figure of infections with 134 cases, followed by Rivers with 82 infections.

Other states are Edo (69), Gombe (39), FCT (32), Kaduna (21), Plateau (20), Benue (19), Kwara (17), Delta (16), Akwa Ibom (10), Bayelsa (5) and Kano (2).

The agency said 183 patients were discharged, while three persons died of COVID complications.

So far, 198,239 cases have been confirmed, 185,780 people discharged, and 2,588 fatalities have been recorded across the 36 states and FCT.

Novavax to produce 2bn COVID-19 vaccine doses in 2022

Novavax, vaccine developer, says at least two billion doses of its COVID-19 vaccine will be available in 2022.

In June, Novavax said its vaccine is more than 90 percent effective in a late-stage US-based clinical trial.

The company said it will apply for emergency use of its vaccine before December.

“We’re already engaging in conversations about incremental procurement for the second half of 2022, as well as early 2023, especially given current vaccination rates around the globe,” John Trizzino, chief commercial officer of Novavax, said.

COVID-19 IN NIGERIA