Daily COVID Tracker: Nigeria to get vaccine in March and UNDP donates kits to ECOWAS

Ghana has become the first country to receive the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine donated by COVAX. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Thursday. 

Moderna designs updated version of COVID-19 vaccine

Moderna says it designed an updated version of its COVID-19 vaccine to help combat the emerging variants.

The new vaccine, called mRNA-1273.351, will be evaluated as a booster shot for people who have already been vaccinated against COVID-19.

It will also serve as a primary vaccine for people who have not had COVID-19 and are yet to be vaccinated.

“Moderna is committed to making as many updates to our vaccine as necessary until the pandemic is under control,” Stephane Bancel, Moderna’s CEO said.

“We hope to demonstrate that booster doses, if necessary, can be done at lower dose levels, which will allow us to provide many more doses to the global community in late 2021 and 2022 if necessary.”

Ghana receives vaccine from COVAX

Ghana has become the first African country to receive the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from COVAX.

The world Health Organisation (WHO) made the announcement on Wednesday.

A consignment of 600,000 doses of the vaccine arrived in Accra on Wednesday.

The country was selected as the first recipient of the free vaccines after meeting the criteria set by COVAX.

#Ghana🇬🇭 becomes the first African country to receive #COVID19 vaccines from the COVAX facility. 600,000 Oxford-AstraZeneca doses arrived in Accra this morning. The delivery is the first wave of arrivals to continue in coming days. pic.twitter.com/1R5mVciEpv

— WHO African Region (@WHOAFRO) February 24, 2021

UNDP donates COVID kits to ECOWAS

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has donated COVID-19 protective equipment to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The donation, which is worth $14 million, is said to be the second batch of contribution by the UNDP to ECOWAS to help the community in the fight against COVID-19.

Mohamed Yahya, country representative of the UNDP in Nigeria, says UNDP remains committed to giving Nigeria and ECOWAS the needed support to fight the pandemic in the region.

Nigeria may not get vaccines till March 

Osagie Ehanire, minister of health, says Nigeria may start taking delivery of its COVID-19 vaccine supply from March.

Ehanire disclosed this on Wednesday after the federal executive council (FEC) meeting at the presidential villa.

He said Nigeria is expecting vaccines from three donor sources, which should satisfy the need of the country.

“Now, the COVAX will start delivering to African countries before the end of February. That’s what they told us,” he said.

“But they didn’t tell us which country is first or which is second, which is third. So, COVAX begins to deliver before the end of February. And we hope that before the end of this month, it would be our turn or latest by beginning of next month.”

J&J vaccine safe and effective

A single shot of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is said to be safe and effective.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the J&J vaccine has “known benefits” in reducing both symptomatic and severe illness.