By Adesuwa Tsan
Despite growing concerns over side effects of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has assured Nigerians of its safety, saying it had scaled through relevant checks.
The Executive Secretary, NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib, said the vaccine had been approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO), as well as the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration (NAFDAC).
Similarly, the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 also insisted that Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is safe for use by Nigerians.
The NPHCDA boss said it was erroneous to assume that the low cost of the vaccine would translate to a reduced potency or side effects. He, however, assured that the agency would keep surveillance on any unusual reaction to the vaccine.
Shuaib explained, “In addition to other measures that we have outlined for the vaccine roll out, NAFDAC has introduced a safety app for people to download and install on their phones.
“I want to assure Nigerians that the Federal Government, through the PTF on COVID-19, is fully committed to a safe and successful COVID-19 vaccination in the country.
“No safety and efficacy standards have been compromised in the decision of government to introduce the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
“It is important to note that none of the approved brand of COVID-19 vaccines is inferior. Understandably, the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine relatively costs less than the other available brands of COVID-19 vaccines.
“However, this is not because it is inferior. It is because AstraZeneca which partners with Oxford to produce the vaccine decided and announced that they would not be making profit during this pandemic.
“As you well know, the AstraZeneca vaccine is being used in many parts of the world. Even after the roll out suspension by some European countries over certain concerns raised, the WHO and its vaccine advisory committee has advised that there is no reason to stop using the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.
“Similarly, the UK regulators have also determined that evidence does not suggest that the vaccine causes blood clot.”
365Daily recalls that the agency had earlier said Nigeria did not receive any doses from the batch of vaccines which are now being reported to have side effect.
Also, the National Incident Manager (NIM) of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Dr. Mukhtar Muhammad, said the clinical trials had shown that the side effects are “generally mild’’.
He said the World Health Organisation (WHO) had in the last three days, through a series of briefings, vouched for the vaccine’s safety and efficacy, and that it had been proven that it had about 70 per cent efficacy level.
Muhammed, however, advised those who have received the vaccine and have felt symptoms of its reactions for more than 24 hours, to report through the appropriate channels at the state level.
He stated, “The arrival of the vaccines is something that is very good and exciting in the sense that a combination of the vaccine and the non-pharmaceutical interventions can help us see the light at the end of the tunnel within a very short period of time.
“However, we have suffered a major setback in the last few hours, regarding the content safety and efficacy of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.
“We have seen in the news how some countries have deferred the usage of this vaccine or have suspended its use. That list of the European countries is growing.
“However, it is very reassuring to see that the regulatory agencies in those countries have continued to emphasise that the vaccine is safe and that the incidence of blood clots reported in the patients is not higher than the risk of blood clotting in people who are not vaccinated. That is really something reassuring.
Germany, France, Spain, Austria, Denmark, Norway and Iceland are among countries that have suspended the AstraZeneca vaccine after reports of blood clots in vaccinated people.
Investigations are currently being conducted to determine if the batch is in any way linked to any observed side effects.