Due to COVID-19 Pandemic, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) initiated a sensitization program on COVID 19 in Nigeria. The twitter chat with Abduljalal Nadabo makes it 37th edition of the Twitter Chat on the 13th August, 2020.

The guest was Abduljalal Nadabo (RPH), a Production Pharmacist at RHG Health Pharmaceuticals Limited, He discussed on The Race for the Production of COVID-19 Vaccines and the Fate of Developing Countries. He started by saying, The COVID 19 Pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities and disabilities of even some of the most developed nations on earth. The discussion reminds him of a statement from Chapter 2 of the book “The “Lizard Shape” No Nation can effectively control what it does not produce. Mr. Nadabo defined developing Countries as a country having a standard of living or level of industrial production well below that possible with financial or technical aid, a country that is not yet highly industrialized. He went further to respond to question on developing vaccines, he said it is an extremely tedious process involving many years and stages of research (experimental and clinical) technicalities, intricacies, risky undertakings and copious amount resources. He made reference to Madagascar produced vaccine some months back and it cured COVID 19. He also reference to China, produced a traditional medicine to cure the disease.

In responding to another question, he said developing countries have no control over these vaccines because most can neither develop nor produce them nor can they afford to make huge financial deals with Big Pharma corporations, their fate is filled with uncertainties. Africa is far from vaccine race, all efforts are dependent on WHO and other International Organisations. It either you develop the vaccine yourself or invest with Big Pharma if you have the resources.

At the end, he summarized the outcome of developing nations with regards to the vaccine race; developing countries should rely on World Health Organisations and other institutions like CEPI, GAVI to be considered for cheaper people’s vaccine, await the controversial Gate’s charity vaccine like the ID2020 conspiracy4, become victims of vaccine hoarding as it has happened in the past. Finally, he said the quest for COVID 19 Vaccine in play is but interplay of international politics and financial interest of pharma corporations, hopes and lots of uncertainties, leaving the developing nations with very limited options available to select at their own peril. This calls for the coming together of the countries to come up with a particular multilateral goal. It is also a wakeup call for developing countries to invest heavily in science if they want to survive through the next century.

Engagements:

1. Join @ICTAdvocates on its 37th edition of Twitter Chat on Covid19 as it hosts Abduljalal Nadabo (RPh), Production Pharmacist at RHG Health & Pharmaceutical LTD who is going to discuss on The Race for the Production of Covid19 Vaccines & the Fate of Developing Countries @ICTAdvocates have assigned me with the task of discussing this very interesting, yet sensitive topic as it deals with international politics and public health. I’ll try to do justice to it. so follow us…
2. Thank you very much. I’m honoured to be here.
3. The COVID 19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities and disabilities of even some of the most developed nations on earth. The topic of discussion is an interesting one but not a pleasant one if the blatant truth about the situation is to be discussed.
4. The topic of discussion reminds me of a statement from Chapter 2 of the book “The Lizard Shape,” authored by my Professor and Boss, @ProfATMora  “No Nation can effectively control what it does not produce.”
5. I think it provides an inkling of the outcome of developing countries with regards to the race of COVID 19 vaccine. What is a Developing Country anyways?
6. Dictiorary.com defines a developing country as a country having a standard of living or level of industrial production well below that possible with financial or technical aid; a country that is not yet highly industrialized. No examples needed.
7. Developing vaccines is an extremely tedious process involving many years and stages of research (experimental and clinical), technicalities, intricacies, risky undertakings and copious amount resources.
8. Even so, the process is full of uncertainties as only a small fraction of preliminary vaccines (7%) reach human trials and only about 17% pass human clinical trials. Still not a 100% guarantee it will work
9. These uncertain figures give an edge to rich countries, endowed with the advanced technologies to engage in these processes and the resources to sign multibillion-dollar vaccine deals with the Big Pharma corporations
10. But it is also filled with peril for poor countries, which lack the resources to sign these deals, or middle-income states that risk gambling on a small number of tentative vaccines.
11. Now before I discuss firsthand the possible fate of these developing nations with regards to the vaccine race, let’s discuss ‘Political Multilateralism and The Quest for Vaccine Nationalism’
12. When I say “Vaccine Nationalism,” I mean every nation for itself and when I say “Multilateralism, I mean all nations coming unbiased coming together of all the nations to confront the vaccine challenge.
13. Ever since the early stage of the pandemic, many advanced countries, including the US, China, Russia, UK, France, Germany, and Italy, have been making moves, intellectually, politically & financially to either develop or secure a vaccine for the virus.
14. A few days ago, the Russian President announced the registration of the first Corona Virus vaccine. The Chinese are also at the forefront of this race with over 5 experimental vaccines with one already approved for limited use by their military.
15. Carolyn and Eva of the Washington Post in an article, described this race between US and China as this generation’s Sputnik moment as it echoes technological dominance just like the space race after the launch of Sputnik in 1957.
16. In return, of course, the 1st 100 million doses produced will be secured for the Britons. Meanwhile, the same Big Pharma Company had made a separate agreement to make 300 million doses available for the US once it is available.
17. The EU also not left out as in the race because, amongst other individual efforts to develop vaccines, in June they made their own vaccine deals through Inclusive Vaccine Alliance forged by Germany, France, Italy & Netherlands to also secure 400 million doses.
18. Many other countries including Australia, Canada, India, Japan, Singapore and South Korea are also in their own races. These are just a few examples. But the big question here is where do most developing countries fit in this global quest?
19. So, let’s not deceive ourselves about multilateralism is only a political display, it’s every nation for itself out there!
20. The way I see it since developing countries have no control over these vaccines because most can neither develop nor produce them nor can they afford to make huge financial deals with Big Pharma corporations, their fate is filled with uncertainties.
21. On June 18th Aljazeera published a worrisome article ‘the race for the virus vaccine could leave poor countries behind.’ Clearly, the rise of this “vaccine nationalism” threatens the future of developing nations once a vaccine is found!
22. Sir, now that a vaccine is claimed to be registered by Russia. What’s the fate of Developing countries? Are we going to fall our hand waiting anything from them, or there’s still hope about our research
23. @AJNadabo What Is the World Doing to Create a COVID-19 Vaccine? Most countries in the advanced world are busy using every available technology and pumping an enormous amount of resources to secure vaccine deals for its people. The WHO is tracking most efforts on its end.
24. Dr. @AJNadabo, what is your comment on claims by some medical practitioners that Chlorine cures #COVID19 patients?
25. @AJNadabo  Is Covid 19 share similar vaccine with maleria? And Why all treatment given to the Covid 19 patients is similar with that of maleria fever? NO. COVID and Malaria are two different diseases requiring different approaches and treatments. they are nothing alike, I think the only link is the Chloroquine, Hydroxychloroquine
26.  is there any procedure or procedures before producing any vaccine? Yes. developing a vaccine is a very tedious process involving many intricacies. There are several procedures to it and it requires a minimum of 6 phases over many years. Many are being overlooked due to the urgent global need in terms of COVID’s.
27. Madagascar some months back product vaccine and it cure Covid 19, China has a product from it’s traditional medicine to cure the disease and just last week Russian govt produced it’s own. Why the differences in a single disease?
28. @AJNadabo what efforts does Nigerian pharms are doing to ensure they try to produce vaccine for the control of Covid 19.
29. Many governments have warned that daily life cannot return to normal until their populations have built up antibodies to fend off the virus. So pls, What is the status of a COVID-19 vaccine?
30. @AJNadabo some people have been saying that politics is playing an important role with regards to production of covid-19 vaccine, is that true? This is actually very true, there is a lot of politics with regards to COVID-19 vaccine development. Exemplified by the US, a COVID 19 vaccine can serve as a very good tool for the campaign against next election.
31. The Race for the Production of COVID-19 Vaccines and the Fate of Developing Countries
32. Interesting discussion going on with @AJNadabo, this young & resourceful professional is leading a discourse on the “Race Towards Getting a Vaccine for #COVID19 & the Fate of Developing Countries”. Drop your questions/comments here on the theme of the discussion @YZYau @a_sabo12
33. I’d like to summarize the outcome of Developing Nations with regards to the vaccine race:
34. 1.Rely on WHO and Other International Institutions like CEPI, GAVI (COVAX) to be considered for cheaper ‘People’s Vaccine 2.Reluctantly wait for the Chinese Vaccine with a Latent Price 3. Await The Controversial Gate’s Charity Vaccine linked to ID2020 Conspiracy4. 3.Become Victims of Vaccine Hoarding as it has happened in the past with other infectious diseases like H1N1, or swine flu, pandemic. The quest for Covid19 vaccine in play is but an interplay of international politics, financial interests of pharma corporations, hopes and lots of uncertainties, leaving the developing nations with very limited options available to select at their own peril. This calls for the coming together of the countries to achieve this particular multilateral goal. It is also a wake-up call for developing nations to invest heavily in science if they are to survive through the next century. #CITADagainstCovid19 Thank you!
35. Here we come to end of this discussion with Pharmacist Abduljalal Nadabo (@AJNadabo) who discussed on The Race for the Production of COVID-19 Vaccines and the Fate of Developing Countries. Thank you so much Pharm for taking your time to educate on this topic #CITADagainstCovid19. Thank you very much for having me. I’ll respond to some of the individual questions at my leisure.
36. Dr. Good afternoon, Is African countries part of this race or they should wait for the super power countries? Frankly, Africa is far from the vaccine race. All efforts are dependent on WHO and other International Organizations. It’s either you develop the vaccine your self or you invest in BigPharma if you have the resources.