NAFDAC obtains dossiers on Coronavirus vaccines for evaluation: Minister

*Nigeria’s Health Minister Dr. Osagie Ehanire stresses that all COVID-19 vaccines carry a certain amount of risk, and any vaccines not approved by the Federal Ministry of Health through its agencies cannot be used in the country

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

As Nigeria and Nigerians await the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines for immunisation against the virus in the country, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has received dossiers for Chinese vaccine and three others for evaluation.

Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Honourable Minister for Health, disclosed this Monday, February 15, in Abuja, FCT, a media briefing by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.

The Minister identified the COVID-19 vaccines such as Sinopharm Vaccine of China, Sputnik V Vaccine of Russia, Covishield or Astra Zeneca manufactured under licence by Serum Institute of India and Covaxin by Bharat vaccines of India.

Ehanire stated: “The National Agency For Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has received dossiers for Sputnik V vaccine of Russia, Covishield or Astra Zeneca manufactured under license by Serum Institute of India, Covaxin by Bharat vaccines of India and the Sinopharm Vaccine of China, for evaluation and validation for use in Nigeria. Some of them are nearly ready for results.

“It is important to stress that all COVID-19 vaccines carry a certain amount of risk and any vaccines not approved by the Federal Ministry of Health through its Agencies cannot be used in Nigeria.”

According to the Minister, “the government will not be responsible for the safety or efficacy of vaccines given outside the framework of the Government.”

He explained that “all the needs of Nigeria have been carefully calculated by NPHCDA and it is possible to accommodate all interests in the framework.”

Ehanire as well also announced the donation of 100,000 AstraZeneca or Covishield vaccine doses by the Indian Government.