COVID-19 Vaccine Released: Nigerian Doctor, Onyema Ogbuagu Develops Vaccine with Team

Since March 2020, when the outbreak of the virus graduated into a worldwide pandemic, practically leaving the world in shambles, medical practitioners’ hands have been on deck making deliberate efforts towards coming up with a cure for this deadly virus. Unfortunately, these efforts didn’t seem to yield any fruitful result.

Recently, a Nigerian Doctor in the diaspora, Onyema Ogbuagu was identified as a member of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine development team, who would later relive our hope. He is an Infectious Disease Specialist at the Yale School of Medicine.

Dr Onyema together with his team developed a vaccine which was recently announced 90% effective, by Pfizer.

In an interview with ABC News, Dr Onyema Ogbuagbu gave better details to confirm the effectiveness, usage and storage of the vaccine. In his words:

Having a highly effective vaccine would help achieve herd immunity. The vaccination, which consists of a 2-dose schedule, shows a 90% efficacy rate seven days after the second dose.

 Pfizer vaccine requires it to be stored at freezing temperatures. Dr Ogbuagbu says preparations are being made to address those concerns.

On dissemination of the vaccine, Pfizer projects the distribution of 1.3 billion doses. Massive distribution is expected to go out around March 2021.

The scintillating contribution has earned the young man praises and recognition from the United States Mission. This was confirmed in a recent tweet made on their official Twitter page which read, “Nigerians contribute to the world in so many ways. Our hats off to Dr Onyema Ogbuagu at Yale who helped develop a covid-19 vaccine.”

As seen in the School’s website, Dr Onyema Ogbuagu profile reads:

Dr Onyema Ogbuagbu is an Associate Professor who serves as the HIV clinical trial program director. He also serves as the lead investigator in a trial for HIV prevention among MSM and transgender women. At Yale, he is responsible for educating and training students, but his expertise has been sought out around various institutions. He mentored students in Rwanda in clinical research projects aimed at addressing HIV/AIDS in the country. As a Yale Principal Investigator for the COVID-19 vaccine, he investigated various therapies such as remdesivir, now approved by the FDA, leronlimad, and others.