Despite assurances by the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, that the country would receive some doses of the approved COVID-19 vaccines in January 2021, more reasons have emerged why Nigeria and other poor countries will have to wait months or even years to be able to access the vaccines.
Researchers at Duke University, North Carolina, United States, believe there would not be enough vaccines produced for the whole world until as late as 2024.
The people in 10 major economies – United Kingdom (U.K.), United States (U.S.), Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Qatar, South Korea, Sweden, and United Arab Emirates– will be able to access Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine by this week but Nigerians may not be able to get the vaccine due to a funding gap of $28.2 billion (N14.1 trillion).
The new report published by the Eurasia Group found that leaving low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs) like Nigeria without access to vaccines amid the COVID-19 pandemic would cause significant economic damage that puts decades of economic progress at risk for both LLMICs and advanced economies.
The report warned that if the funding gap was not met, low- and low-middle income countries including Nigeria will have delayed access to these vital tools- tests, treatments and vaccines- in 2021, which will result in a protracted pandemic, with severe economic consequences, not just for these countries by also for the wider global economy.
The report was released as world leaders gather virtually at the Special Session of the General Assembly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also, Ehanire, had earlier in the week assured that the Federal Government had ordered initial 20 million doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine through the COVAX/World Health Organisation (WHO) facility.
But critics worry about where the counterpart funding by the Federal Government would come from, considering the country’s present economic challenges.

Why should Nigerians be vaccinated? Malaria is our problem... not COVID-19. Why should we be taking panadol for their headache? Red flags should go up when we hear these nations are showing concern for the health of Africans period.