The World Health Organization (WHO) issued an emergency use listing (EUL) for NVX-CoV2373 on Friday, bringing the total number of WHO-validated vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus to seven.

The vaccine, known as CovovaxTM, is manufactured by the Serum Institute of India under license from Novavax as part of the COVAX facility portfolio, providing a much-needed boost to ongoing efforts to vaccinate more people in low-income countries.

The EUL procedure, developed by the World Health Organization, evaluates the quality, safety, and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and is a requirement for COVAX vaccine supply. It also allows countries to expedite their own regulatory approval for COVID-19 vaccine import and administration.

“Vaccines remain one of the most effective tools for protecting people against serious illness and death from SARS-COV-2, even as new variants emerge,” said WHO Assistant-Director General for Access to Medicines and Health Products, Dr. Mariângela Simo. ‘This listing aims to increase access, particularly in low-income countries, where 41 countries have yet to vaccinate 10% of their populations, and 98 countries have yet to reach 40%.”

CovovaxTM was evaluated under the WHO EUL procedure, which included a review of the quality, safety, and efficacy data, a risk management plan, programmatic suitability, and inspections of manufacturing sites by the Drugs Controller General of India.

The WHO-convened Technical Advisory Group for Emergency Use Listing (TAG-EUL), made up of experts from around the world, has determined that the vaccine meets WHO standards for COVID-19 protection, that the vaccine’s benefits far outweigh any risks, and that the vaccine can be used globally.

Novavax and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations developed CovovaxTM, a component of the vaccine (CEPI). It is stable at 2 to 8 °C refrigerated temperatures and requires two doses. The vaccine is made using a novel platform in which an engineered baculovirus with a gene for a modified SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is created.

The European Medicines Agency is currently reviewing Novavax’s NuvaxovidTM, the company’s original product (EMA). Once the EMA has issued its recommendation, the WHO will complete its own evaluation of the vaccine.

The vaccine was also discussed at a meeting of WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) this week. SAGE develops specific policies and recommendations for the use of vaccines in populations (e.g., recommended age groups, dose intervals, and specific groups such as pregnant and lactating women), and will issue recommendations for NuvaxovidTM/CovovaxTM in the coming days.

The World Health Organization has a list of emergency uses.

The emergency use listing (EUL) procedure determines whether new health products are suitable for use in public health emergencies. The goal is to make medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics available as quickly as possible to respond to emergencies while adhering to strict safety, efficacy, and quality criteria.

According to the WHO, the assessment considers the emergency’s threat as well as the benefit that would result from using the product, as well as any potential risks.

The EUL pathway entails a thorough review of late-stage phase II and phases III clinical trial data, as well as significant additional data on safety, efficacy, quality, and a risk management strategy.

These data are examined by independent experts and WHO teams, who take into account the current body of evidence on the vaccine in question, as well as plans for monitoring its use and future research.

As part of the EUL process, the vaccine manufacturer must commit to continuing to generate data in order for the vaccine to receive full licensure and WHO prequalification.

Additional clinical data generated from vaccine trials and deployment will be assessed on a rolling basis by the WHO prequalification process to ensure the vaccine meets the necessary quality, safety, and efficacy standards for broader availability.

On the occasion of President Muhammadu Buhari’s 79th birthday, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State congratulated him.

Bello’s message was contained in a statement released on Friday by the Nigerian News Agency (NAN).

“Happy birthday, President of the world’s most powerful black nation.”

“You have served our country with zeal and unwavering dedication. He said, “You’ve remained an icon of good governance and transparency.”

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The governor wished the President more strength as he continued to make the country proud, and wished him a long life so that he could continue to engrave Nigeria with his “mercurial personality.”

Buhari, who turned 79 years old today, celebrated his birthday in Istanbul, Turkey, where he will attend President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s 3rd Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit.

Buhari’s spokesman, Garba Shehu, said the President began the day by cutting his 79th birthday cake, which was shaped in national colors of green, white, and green, before chairing a planning meeting with officials in his delegation and then driving to the Dolmabahce Palace for a meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Erdogan.

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In response to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, who paid tribute on behalf of the ministers and the rest of the delegation, President Shehu said he will do his best for Nigeria until the end of his administration in 2023.

At the end of his term, Buhari promised to hand over to a successor and return to his farm to tend to his crops and livestock.

The federal government has submitted to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption a draft resolution on the use of Beneficial Ownership information and data disclosure to identify, track, recover, and return assets looted or stolen from developing countries.

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The National Beneficial Ownership Register was launched by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to track facts, information, and data on who owns what in Nigeria’s oil, gas, and mining sectors.

The register developed by NEITI, according to Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, the organization’s Executive Secretary, is part of strategies in place to combat tax evasion, terrorism financing, illicit financial flows, and capital flight.

While presenting the draft resolution at the 9th Session of the Conference of State Parties in Egypt, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami said it was part of Nigeria’s institutional structures and legislation to protect the country’s resources.

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In light of the draft resolution’s strategic importance in recovering looted assets from developing countries, the Minister conveyed Nigeria’s appeal to the UN Convention against Corruption’s Conference of State Parties to consider it on its merits.

Over 150 countries expected to attend the UN Conference are expected to ratify the global anti-corruption strategy for adoption.

A joint military operation taskforce team opened fire on bandits operating in the Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Thursday.

The bandits, led by a man named Bello Turji, were left scrambling in the aftermath of the raid, which left several marauders injured and others dead.

According to army sources, Major General Uwem Bassey, the General Officer Commanding of the 8th Division Nigeria Army Headquarters Sokoto, led the military assault.

Satiru and Katanga, two villages in Isa LGA, were recently attacked by bandits, resulting in the deaths of many villagers.

The military, on the other hand, is said to have stormed the marauders’ hideouts between Thursday and Friday, killing many of the gunmen.

According to sources, some of the bandits who escaped the raid were seen attempting to flee along the outskirts of Bafarawa village, some on motorcycles.

All attempts to contact the division’s army spokesman in the division were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. More information on the development is expected in the coming hours.

Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) on his 79th birthday.

He praised President Buhari for the things he has done for Nigeria since taking office in 2015, saying that such a man should be honored on his birthday by all well-meaning Nigerians.

Gbajabiamila praised Buhari for prioritizing Nigeria above all else, saying that Nigerians are proud of him.

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He stated that, at the age of 79, the President has accomplished a great deal as an individual and as a leader of exceptional character and integrity.

Gbajabiamila stated that he believes the President will do a lot more for the country during his remaining term in office.

He remarked with delight on how the President adheres to the APC’s manifesto.
“Nigeria and Nigerians are proud of you, Mr. President.” It is commendable how you have been steering the Nigerian state’s ship.

“As a result, I join millions of our fellow citizens in wishing you a happy birthday and many more years of good health,” the Speaker said.