TheCable

Nigeria on Thursday recorded 290 cases of coronavirus. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Friday. 

WHO launches $8bn global vaccine plan

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched an $8 billion pathway to help 40 percent of people in all countries to be vaccinated against COVID by the end of 2021 and 70 percent in mid-2022.

Speaking on the development, António Guterres, United Nations (UN) secretary-general, called for an equitable distribution of the vaccines.

“Without a coordinated, equitable approach, a reduction of cases in any one country will not be sustained over time,” he said.

“Not to have equitable distribution of vaccines is not only a question of being immoral, it is also a question of being stupid.”

Buhari: COVID-19 does not discriminate — whether president or pauper

President Muhammadu Buhari says COVID-19 affects everyone, regardless of social class and position.

He said the country will continue to maintain its COVID-19 guidelines to protect citizens and curb the spread of the virus.

The president spoke on Thursday when he presented the 2022 appropriation bill to the national assembly.

“The grim realities of COVID-19 and its lethal variants are still upon us. From president to pauper, the virus does not discriminate,” he said.

Moderna to set up COVID vaccine plant in Africa

Moderna has announced plans to invest about $500 million to build a factory in Africa.

The production site, the company said, would make up to 500 million doses of mRNA vaccines each year, including its COVID-19 shot.

The development comes amid calls by WHO and African leaders for COVID vaccine manufacturers to set up their factories in the continent.

“We expect to manufacture our COVID-19 vaccine as well as additional products within our mRNA vaccine portfolio at this facility,” Stephane Bancel, chief executive officer (CEO) of Moderna, said in a statement.

Nigeria records 290 cases

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says the country recorded 290 cases of COVID-19.

The agency said the fresh infections on Thursday, were reported in 14 states and the federal capital territory (FCT).

The states that recorded the new cases are FCT (127), Lagos (45), Kaduna (28), Delta (18), Kwara (17), Plateau (13), Zamfara (10), Rivers (8), Imo (6), Ekiti (5), Nasarawa (4), Edo (3), Ondo (3), Akwa Ibom (2) and Oyo (1).

According to the NCDC data, 145 patients recovered from the infection, while two deaths were reported.

Nigeria has now confirmed a total number of 207,210 infections, 194,796 recoveries and 2,742 deaths.

Pfizer/BioNTech ask US to approve its COVID vaccine for children ages 5-11

Pfizer and BioNTech have asked the US drug regulators to approve an emergency use of their COVID-19 vaccine for children between the age of 5 and 11. COVID shot is currently not permitted for the age group.

“With new cases in children in the U.S. continuing to be at a high level, this submission is an important step in our ongoing effort against #COVID19,” Pfizer said.

The US Food and Drug Administration has scheduled October 26 for its panel of advisers to consider the application.