Nigerian Made COVID-19 Vaccine Undergoing Clinical Trial – PT

Ehanire, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Abdullaziz Mashi Abdullahi, said the racketeering of vaccines was unnecessary because vaccination had been scheduled in phases such that frontline health workers and those at higher risk of the infection were vaccinated first after registration at the portal.

The Minister also said government met with the AstraZeneca group at the Federal Ministry of Health.

He said, “The outcome of the meeting was a reassurance of the safety and efficacy of the vaccine against Covid-19. We have not yet recorded unusual side effects among those who have received the vaccine which include me. NAFDAC is monitoring the process as part of a global tracking of adverse effects of the vaccine.”

While acknowledging that there has been a reduction in the number of confirmed cases daily even with sustained testing rate and government intend to keep it so, he said that the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria as of Monday morning was 161,737 from 1,727,467 samples tested with a test positivity rate of 9.4 percent.

He, however said that Nigeria recorded 2,030 deaths.

Ehanire said, “In the last week, we have recorded a total of 1,080 cases. This is less than what was recorded daily during the second wave even with sustained testing. While this is good, we shall not on account of this, rest on our laurels for it is still too early to do so.”

Also, the Federal Government has enlisted the support of regulatory and anti-corruption agencies to strengthen vaccine accountability and check cases of vaccine theft and mismanagement, the Executive Director, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib, said on Monday.

He added that government had commenced investigation of alleged mismanagement of vaccine in some vaccination centres, including the police clinic in Falomo, Lagos State.

Shuaib, who spoke during the press conference of the Presidential Task Force on COVID – 19, assured that the procurement of vaccines would be done with utmost transparency.

He said, “Some of the information reaching us from the states is that there are reports of alleged vaccine mismanagement at some vaccination sites, including the Police Clinic, Falomo, in Lagos state. This is currently being investigated and we understand from the Lagos State Government that a report would be made available today.

“We anticipate that decisive action will be taken against anyone found culpable of subverting the vaccination process.

So, we do expect full application of the accountability mechanism. Beyond this case, the Federal Government is following closely on its vaccine accountability framework to ensure that similar cases of vaccine mismanagement and other sharp practices are quashed.

“We have established a collaborative partnership with regulatory and anti-corruption agencies to further strengthen vaccine accountability.

“We have also instituted mechanisms to ensure that the roll out of the COVID – 19 vaccines in all the states is equally free from corrupt practices. Therefore, any information of vaccine mishandling and mismanagement will be handled using stringent measures and appropriate sanctions.”

Speaking on concerns raised on the safety and efficacy of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine presently used for vaccination in Nigeria, Shuaib reiterated that the World Health Organisation was unequivocal in urging countries in Europe and globally to continue its administration.

“Furthermore, results from the long-awaited US trial of the Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccine confirm it is both safe and highly effective. It is 79 per cent effective at stopping symptomatic COVID-19, 100 per cent effective at preventing serious illness.

He said that out of the 122,410 people who have been vaccinated with the Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccine, “no Nigerian so far has developed any known severe side effects following vaccination with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.”