COVID-19: Federal Government, Sultan of Sokoto, others endorse AstraZeneca vaccine use

*There are those who do not believe in the vaccine or that COVID-19 even exists, but we believe because we have lost many of our close friends and family members ─Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs

*I have taken the vaccine myself…. I took it two weeks ago, and every member of the front line staff of the NCDC has taken the vaccine, says Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director-General of National Centre for Disease Control

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

Top stakeholders in the citizen engagement efforts at vaccination have urged Nigerians to continue with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, noting that it remains the only tool to get out of the damaging Coronavirus pandemic.

Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), has reaffirmed confidence in the Federal Government’s decision to continue the vaccination of Nigerians with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

Sultan Abubakar, stated this while speaking at the sensitisation forum of Muslim scholars and Imams on COVID-19 vaccination, Friday, March 19 in Abuja, FCT, organised by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) in collaboration with the NSCIA.

He further urged religious and traditional leaders to enlighten their followers on the reality of COVID-19 pandemic and the benefits of getting vaccinated in the country, according to report.

It was learnt the response came hours after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) finalised its investigation of suspicion of blood clot associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

ConsumerConnect gathered the EMA report clearly stated that countries could resume the use of the vaccine as its investigation has not linked the random cases of blood clotting with the AstraZeneca vaccination.

European countries are now reversing their temporary suspension of use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and beginning the vaccination of their citizens, report said.

France’s Prime Minister Jean Castex has announced he will receive the AstraZeneca vaccine, Friday.

UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, also announced he would and did receive the AstraZeneca vaccine Friday, March 19.

The Head of the EMA, Emer Cooke, has personally and publicly confirmed that the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and effective.

Abubakar said: “As Muslims, we know leaders must consult before taking decisions on behalf of those they are leading.

“This morning’s programme is in furtherance of that consultation because the time we met last time till yesterday (Thursday), I think there was still more confusion as regards the vaccine, its efficacy, the various conspiracy theories that we have been hearing or seeing on pages of media.

“Even though some European countries suspended the use of the vaccine, some hours ago, about 30 hours ago, the same countries are going back to the use of those vaccines.

“The vaccine has been rolled out in Nigeria in some states and some states are yet to roll out the vaccine. Some don’t even believe that there is COVID-19. But we are all here to discuss some of those issues.

“We have seen Mr. President publicly take the vaccine, the Vice President and others, and we expect to see more political leaders coming out openly to take the vaccine.”

The Sultan of Sokoto further explained: “All political leaders must take the vaccine first before the man in the street because they are our leaders and they have to be protected first.

“They have to be saved first from any pandemic. It is when they are strong, healthy, and alive that they will now take our country to greater heights.

“There are those who do not believe in the vaccine or that COVID-19 even exists, but we believe because we have lost many of our close friends and family members.

“It is very important for us in advocating letting people know that yes COVID-19 is there and yes there is a possibility of getting out of it. But it is left for you to act on it.”

Dr. Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director of NPHCDA, in his address, said: “Today (Friday) we are coming out fresh from an unnecessary controversy that trailed the introduction of AstraZeneca globally, especially the communications coming out of Europe about the linkage between AstraZeneca vaccination and blood clotting.

“While up to 20 countries paused the vaccination as a precautionary measure, for the common man in Nigeria, it is difficult to understand what the difference is between stopping the vaccination and pausing vaccinations as a precautionary measure.

Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Honourable Minister for Health, also said: “With this vaccine, the good effects are clear in that it protects us from infection.  Because it is new, people are on the alert for any effects – even if they sneeze, they probably will connect it to the vaccine.

“So, when out of abundance of caution, authorities decide to slow down on the use of the vaccine and watch, it is the normal thing also.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director-General of National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has assured Nigerians that the Astrazeneca vaccine is safe.

The NCDC Director-General was reported to have said this in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, while commissioning the Molecular Laboratory at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital’s Viral Studies, Research, Treatment and Control Centre.

Dr. Ihekweazu stated: “I have taken the vaccine myself. I am standing here right now in front of you. I took it two weeks ago and every member of the front line staff of the NCDC has taken the vaccine”.

“We are confident that this vaccine will be a game changer as we respond to this outbreak in Nigeria.”

He as well accused some religious fanatics of hypocrisy and double standard on the vaccine.

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