NIGERIA: The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) has said that Nigeria has not received any dose of the AstraZeneca ABV5300 vaccine.
Just as it reassured Nigerians that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine that is been given in the country is safe and effective.
This was contained in a press statement signed by Head of Public Relations Unit, Mohammad Ohitoto and made available to Transcontinental Times.
The Agency said that they are aware of the concerns been raised regarding the batch of AstraZeneca vaccine ABV5300 adding that investigations are being conducted to determine if the batch is 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 which is at issue”, the statement read.
Ohitoto further said that no adverse reactions have been observed from the vaccinations that have been carried out so far across the country.
“Vaccinations in Nigeria started earlier this month and we have not observed any similar adverse reactions. All side effects reported by those who have been administered the vaccine have been mild.
“We are satisfied that the clinical evidence indicates the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to be 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.
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“We are continuing to monitor the developments regarding ABV5300 batch and will share further information as it becomes available,” the statement read.
The Agency then encouraged Nigerians to continue their confidence and enthusiasm in taking the vaccines declaring that it is safe.
European Countries Suspend AstraZeneca ABV5300 Vaccine
Countries across Europe have begun suspending the rollout of the Oxford/AstraZeneca ABV5300 jab after reports emerged of blood clotting after vaccination.
There have been reports of deaths from clotting which a lot of people point out to be a result of taking the ABV5300 vaccine.
Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia and Italy, and non-EU Norway and Iceland have all suspended the rollout of some Oxford/AstraZeneca batches as a precautionary measure.
The batch ABV5300 was delivered to 17 European countries (Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden) and in total comprises one million doses.
