Nigeria Still Reliant on Imported Vaccines, Says Health Minister Nigeria's Minister of State for Health, Iziaq Salako, has emphasized the country's limitations in vaccine production, stating that it is not yet possible to manufacture vaccines domestically. In an interview on Channels Television's Politics Today, Salako highlighted the constraints facing Nigeria's vaccine production capacity. He noted that the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Health Value Chain aims to advance local vaccine development, but emphasized that vaccine manufacturing requires a thorough economic and technical assessment. "To be sustainable, domestic production must be cost-effective," Salako explained. "It's not enough to simply decide to produce vaccines; we must consider our comparative advantage. If local production ends up being more expensive than importing, then it defeats the purpose. Every necessary analysis must be done." While Nigeria's vast population of over 200 million citizens presents an advantage, Salako acknowledged that the country still needs to meet global market and production standards. However, he assured Nigerians that the nation's health security system remains robust and ready to respond to international health threats. The comments from Salako underscore the complexities involved in vaccine production and the need for a carefully considered approach to local development. As Nigeria continues to navigate the challenges of vaccine production, it is clear that a multi-faceted strategy will be required to ensure the country's health security is protected.