WHO urges countries to continue using AstraZeneca Vaccine as Nigeria vaccinates over 8,000 persons

*The World Health Organisation directs countries to continue vaccination with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine jabs, saying the risk-benefit of vaccinating, using AstraZeneca vaccines and other vaccines outweigh the risk of COVID infection

*Nigeria has not received any official report of serious adverse effects from any of those who have been vaccinated with AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, says Dr. Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director of National Primary Health Care Development Agency

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has directed countries to continue applying the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine jabs despite that several governments have halted rollouts due to blood clot fears.

WHO Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan at a press conference Monday, March 15 said: “We do not want people to panic and we would, for the time being, recommend that countries continue vaccinating with AstraZeneca.”

ConsumerConnect reports Swaminathan’s comments came as a growing list of mainly European countries, including Italy and Ireland, suspended use of the COVID-19 vaccine.

They have attributed their decision to reported cases of blood clots in people who had received the shots, agency report said.

However, the global health body assured that its vaccine safety experts are examining the data and would meet Tuesday, March 16 while Europe’s medicines watchdog will hold a special meeting Thursday.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, during Monday’s briefing stated: “WHO’s advisory committee on vaccine safety has been reviewing the available data, is in close contact with the European Medicines Agency, and will meet tomorrow (Tuesday).”

Dr. Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director of NPHCDA, receives COVID-19 Vaccine jab in Abuja, FCT

Though the countries’ decisions to suspend vaccinations with the AstraZeneca jab, after blood clots were seen in people who had received doses from two vaccine batches produced in Europe, were “precautionary”, said the WHO Chief.

Ghebreyesus, however clarified that “this does not necessarily mean that these events are linked to vaccination.

“It is routine practice to investigate them, and it shows that the surveillance system works and that effective controls are in place.”

Swaminathan also highlighted that no causal link had been established between clotting and the vaccine, which was jointly developed with the University of Oxford, in the United Kingdom (UK).

The WHO Chief Scientist stated that some blood clot incidents among the general population were to be expected.

She noted: “So far, we do not find an association between these events and the vaccine because the rates at which these events have occurred in the vaccinated group are, in fact, less than what you would expect in the general population at the same time.”

Mariangela Simao, the WHO’s Assistant Director-General for access to medicines and health products, agreed to her submission.

Simao said that millions of doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine had been administered in Europe, and yet there had been no increase in blood clot events.

She stated “so far it doesn’t look like there are more cases than would be expected for the period in the general population.”

The fresh suspensions were said to be a major blow to a global immunisation campaign that experts hope will help end a year-long pandemic that has already killed more than 2.6 million people and shredded the global economy.

While halting the use of the vaccine as a precautionary measure was understandable, the WHO experts stressed that doing so as case numbers are on the rise across Europe would come at a price.

“The risk-benefit of… vaccinating using AstraZeneca vaccines and other vaccines outweigh the risk of Covid infection,” Simao said.

The issue is particularly concerning since the AstraZeneca jab makes up almost all of the doses being distributed in the first wave of the Covax global vaccine-sharing scheme aimed at ensuring access to immunisation for poorer countries.

Simao emphasised though that so far only batches made in Europe were being looked at, “not vaccines that are provided through the Covax facility, which are made in Korea, and India”.

Over 8,000 Nigerians have received AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine: NPHCDA

Meanwhile, in line with the WHO directive to countries on continuation of vaccination with the vaccine brand, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) in Nigeria has disclosed that more than 8,000 persons have received the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine jabs in the country.

Dr. Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director of NPHCDA, who stated this at the weekly media briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 Monday, March 15 in Abuja, FCT, disclosed thus far, the health agency has not received any official report of serious adverse effects from any of those who have been vaccinated.

Shuaib, however, said “mild side effects such as pain and swelling at the site of the vaccination are expected.”

He noted that “all state governors apart from Kogi, have launched the vaccination programme” in the country.

“These (vaccination) launches also involved public vaccination of the governor and strategic leaders, again, to underscore the confidence in the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine,” stated Executive Director of NPHCDA

He said: “We have not received any official report of serious adverse effects from any of those who have been vaccinated.

“Of course, mild side effects such as pain and swelling at the site of the vaccination, are expected. This is normal with any vaccination, and we are working closely with NAFDAC to monitor any unusual adverse reactions.”

Shuaib assured “Nigerians that the Federal Government through the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 (PTF) is firmly committed to safe and successful COVID-19 vaccination program in the country.

“No safety and efficacy standards have been compromised in the decision of the government to introduce the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

“The vaccine was approved for emergency use listing by the WHO and was tested and certified as safe and effective for use in Nigeria by NAFDAC.”

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