National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has declared that Nigeria did not receive the batch of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine reported to be causing blood clots in some European countries.
MDB earlier reported that Denmark, Iceland and Norway are among the European countries that have suspended the use of the vaccine after “severe cases of blood clots” were reported in people who had been vaccinated.
Read Also: Norway, Denmark, Iceland Suspend Use Of AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine Over Blood Clot Fears
Reacting to the development in a statement on Thursday, NPHCDA said the specific batch in question, ABV5300, is not in circulation in the country.
It would be recalled that last week, Nigeria took delivery of about four million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines as part of an overall 16 million doses planned to be delivered to the country in batches over the next few months.
President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and some Governors have since gotten vaccinated.
Read Also: Breaking: President Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo Receive COVID-19 Vaccine (Video)
Health workers, members of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and other strategic leaders in the country have also received their first doses.
Following the suspension of the vaccine in some European countries, the Federal Government’s agency made the clarification in a statement made available on its Twitter handle on Thursday.
Read Also: Governors Of Osun, Kaduna, Niger, Zamfara Receive COVID-19 Vaccines (Photos)
In the statement titled, ‘Press Statement on concerns about the safety of the Oxford/AstraZeneca Vaccine’, NPHCDA urged Nigerians to be confident in the nation’s vaccine programme.
Press Statement on concerns about the safety of the Oxford/AstraZeneca Vaccine.
We are aware of precautionary concerns that have been raised regarding one specific batch of the AstraZeneca vaccine, namely ABV5300.
— NPHCDA (@NphcdaNG) March 11, 2021
It stated;
We are aware of precautionary concerns that have been raised regarding one specific batch of the AstraZeneca vaccine, namely ABV5300.
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 which is at issue.
The health agency added;
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.
NPHCDA added;
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 FMOH, NPHCDA, NAFDAC, 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.
We are continuing to monitor the developments regarding ABV5300 batch and will share further information as it becomes available.
President Buhari and Yemi Osinbajo who were among the first recipients in Nigeria — have not reported any side effects since getting their jabs last weekend.
