By Asmau Ahmad
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) said since the country commenced its COVID-19 vaccination, no Nigerian has observed any adverse reaction.
The agency noted that that all side effects reported by those who have taken the jab have been mild, Executive Director of the NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib, said.
In a statement made available to newsmen, he said the country is aware of precautionary concerns that have been raised regarding one specific batch of the AstraZeneca vaccine, namely ABV5300.
He said: “We understand that investigations are being conducted to determine if the batch is in any way linked to an observed side effect. While we await the outcome of the investigations, it is important to clearly state that Nigeria did not receive any doses from the batch of vaccines with issues.”
Dr Shuaib said that the government is satisfied that the clinical evidence indicates that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and effective.
“Our assessment is in line with countries such as Spain and the UK who have indicated that they will continue to administer the vaccine, because it remains an important tool to protect against COVID-19.
“The safety of vaccines delivered to Nigeria is paramount to the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19. For this reason, it has enhanced multi-sectoral collaboration among stakeholders and technical entities such as the Federal Ministry of Health, NPHCDA, NAFDAC, the WHO and UNICEF whose cooperation ensures the highest global standards are met for vaccines delivered to Nigeria before they are distributed to Nigerians. Clear, rigorous protocols are being followed to safeguard the health of Nigerians,” he noted.
According to him, Nigeria continue to monitor the developments regarding ABV5300 batch and will share further information as it becomes available.
The NPHCDC boss encouraged Nigerians who were among those being prioritized in the current phase to continue their confidence and enthusiasm for the vitally important national vaccine programme.
Nigeria had on March 2, took delivery of nearly four million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine as part of an overall 16 million doses planned to be delivered to the country in batches over the next few months.
The vaccines are being provided by COVAX, an unprecedented global effort to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.
Nigeria on Friday commenced the vaccination, beginning with healthcare workers who are often at the risk of exposure to infections being the first responders to patients.
