Behind Target, Schedule, Says Tomori
8,439 Nigerians Exhibit Mild Side Effects
WHO To Scale Up Pressure On Countries Hoarding Vaccine
NPHCDA Reviews Eligibility Period
Nothing Inappropriate With Two Months Gap, Says Guild Of Medical Directors
More reasons have emerged why Nigeria cannot have enough COVID-19 vaccines to reach the proposed 70 per cent of its population by the end of next year.
Until now, The investigation revealed that the country has taken delivery of only 3.92 million doses of Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine and expended just over one million as first doses, while nobody has received the second booster dose, which is supposed to be administered within four weeks of the first.
The situation has raised so many questions, including the health implications of not taking a second jab within the stipulated period, even as Nigeria continues to administer the AstraZeneca vaccine despite growing global resentmentxérr.
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However, one month after Nigeria officially began COVID-19 vaccination, the country has not recorded any death from the immunisation process, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has said.
This is even as the agency announced that over a million Nigerians have been administered the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Meanwhile, Nigeria has reviewed the eligibility period between the first and second doses of the vaccine from 12 weeks to between eight and 12 weeks. This is still in line with the scientific recommendation provided by the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE on immunisation) that the two doses of the vaccine be given at an interval of 8 to 12 weeks.
Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaibu, who made this disclosure at a briefing yesterday in Abuja, explained that there is currently a global shortfall of COVID-19 vaccines largely due to the manufacturers not meeting their projected targets and vaccine nationalism that has led producing countries to restrict exportation and protect vaccines for their citizens.
Shuaibu observed that these developments have now necessitated that the countryreassessess its vaccine supply forecasts and decide to ensure that everyone who has taken the vaccine in the current phase gets the second dose before the next consignment is delivered to Nigeria.
The NPHCDA boss, however, disclosed that about 8,439 Nigerians experienced mild adverse effects after taking the vaccine, while 52 cases of moderate to severe incidents of Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) were reported.
According to Shuaibu, the mild side effects reported ranges from pain, swelling at the site of the inoculation, to body pains and nausea, while moderate to severe incidents were presented as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, dizziness,s and allergic reactions.
He observed that five states have the highest records of the AEFI- Kaduna, 970; Cross River 859; Yobe 541; Kebbi 511 and Lagos, 448.
He informed that unlike what was reported in some countries, Nigeria was yet to diagnose any case of blood clots related to the administration of the vaccines, insisting that the AstraZeneca vaccine administered to Nigerians is safe and effective against COVID-19.
He explained that the agency was working with National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to set up a more active surveillance system built on its experience with polio surveillance.
WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Molumbo, assured Nigerians of vaccine safety, saying the world body would intensify pressure on countries hoarding vaccines to ensure equitable distribution.
Africa’s top public health official on Thursday warned that many Africans who have received their first COVID-19 vaccine do not know when they will get a second shot because of delayed deliveries.
Head of the Africa Centres for
