Abuja: A leading vaccine expert, Dr. Simon Agwale, has called for urgent investment in vaccine research infrastructure to strengthen Nigeria's ability to tackle future pandemics. Agwale, a global vaccine researcher and member of the international '100 Days Mission' team, emphasized the importance of local capacity at the Inaugural Vaccine Research Retreat hosted by the Federal University Teaching Hospital (FUTH), Lafia, Nasarawa State.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Agwale highlighted that the '100 Days Mission,' a project of the International Pandemic Preparedness Secretariat, aims to ensure that within the first 100 days of identifying a pandemic threat, relevant interventions are provided safely, effectively, and affordably. He expressed concern over Nigeria's dependence on imported vaccines and outdated production methods, which pose a significant threat to the country's pandemic preparedness and response.
Agwale stressed the necessity of establishing genomic laboratories and animal testing facilities to enable local vaccine production. 'Without basic research capacity and animal testing infrastructure, it is impossible to develop vaccines,' he stated, urging Nigeria to stop relying on external sources for scientific solutions. He explained that vaccines are the most effective public health tools, capable of eradicating diseases and preventing widespread transmission through strong population-level immunity.
He further elaborated on the rigorous scientific process required for vaccine development, which includes laboratory research, clinical trials, and large-scale manufacturing capabilities. Agwale also highlighted the importance of identifying correlates of protection and specific immune responses that confer immunity before testing vaccine candidates in humans. Citing the COVID-19 pandemic, he illustrated how rapid vaccine development could save lives and reduce global suffering.
Agwale pointed out that the U.S. government adopted a rolling review model and funded companies upfront to accelerate vaccine production timelines, mitigating risks for manufacturers. 'Manufacturers were told to produce at risk. If the vaccine failed, the government would bear the loss,' he explained, noting that this approach delivered safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines in less than a year.
The experience, he said, inspired the launch of the global '100 Days Mission,' aimed at producing vaccines within 100 days of a future pandemic's emergence. As a member of the international committee working on the framework, Agwale clarified the science behind different vaccine platforms and the variability in side effects and immune responses between technologies.
He urged the Nigerian government and key stakeholders to invest in genomic labs and build robust vaccine development platforms, emphasizing the importance of understanding the genetic sequence of disease-causing organisms to create effective vaccines. Agwale stressed the need for Nigeria to build self-reliance through local scientific infrastructure and expertise, rather than exporting samples abroad.
He concluded that Nigeria's health security depends on how quickly sustainable research systems can be established to address both local and global health threats.