COVID- 19 Vaccine: Uncertainty Over New Supplies Delays Second Jab

• Nigeria Records Zero Death One Month After Rollout • Behind Target, Schedule, Says Tomori • 8,439 Nigerians Exhibit Mild Side Effects • WHO To Scale Up Pressure On Countries Hoarding Vaccine • NPHCDA Reviews Eligibility Period • Nothing Inappropriate Wi

MORE reasons ha ve emerged why Nigeria cannot ha ve enough COVID- 19 vaccines to reach the proposed 70 per cent of its population by the end of next year . Until now, The Guardian investigation revealed that the country has taken delivery of only 3.92 million doses of Oxford Astrazeneca vaccine and expended just over one million as first doses, while nobody has received the second booster dose, which is supposed to be administered within four weeks of the first. The situation has raised so many questions, including the health implications of not taking a second jab within the stipulated period, even as Nigeria continues to administer the Astrazeneca vaccine despite growing global resentment.

However, one month after Nigeria officially began COVID- 19 vaccination, the country has not recorded any death from the immunisation process, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency ( NPHCDA) has said.

This is even as the agency announced that over a million Nigerians have been administered the first dose of the Astrazeneca vaccine. Meanwhile, Nigeria has reviewed the eligibility period between the first and second doses of the vaccine from 12 weeks to between eight and 12 weeks. This is still in line with the scientific recommendation provided by the World Health Organisation’s ( WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts ( SAGE on immunisation) that the two doses of the vaccine be given at an interval of 8 to 12 weeks.

Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaibu, who made these disclosure at a briefing yesterday in Abuja, explained that there is currently a global shortfall of COVID- 19 vaccines largely due to the manufacturers not meeting their projected targets and vaccine nationalism that has led producing countries to restrict exportation and protect vaccines for their citizens.

Shuaibu observed that these developments have now necessitated that the country reassess its vaccine supply forecasts and take the decision to ensure that everyone who has taken the vaccine in the current phase gets the second dose before the next consignment is delivered to Nigeria.

The NPHCDA boss, however, disclosed that about 8,439 Nigerians experienced mild adverse effects after taking the vaccine, while 52 cases of moderate to severe incidents of Adverse Events Following Immunization ( AEFI) were reported.

According to Shuaibu, the mild side effects reported ranges from pain, swelling at the site of the inoculation, to body pains and nausea, while moderate to severe incidents were presented as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, dizziness and allergic reactions.

He observed that five states have the highest records of the AEFIKaduna, 970; Cross River 859; Yobe 541; Kebbi 511 and Lagos, 448.

He informed that unlike what was reported in some countries, Nigeria was yet to diagnose any case of blood clots related to the administration of the vaccines, insisting that Astrazeneca vaccine administered to Nigerians is safe and effective against COVID- 19.

He explained that the agency was working with National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control ( NAFDAC) and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control ( NCDC) to set up a more active surveillance system built on its experience with polio surveillance.

WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Molumbo, assured Nigerians of the vaccine safety, saying the world body would intensify pressure on countries hoarding vaccines to ensure equitable distribution.

Africa’s top public health official on Thursday warned that many Africans who have received their first COVID- 19 vaccine do not know when they will get a second shot because of delayed deliveries.

Head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention ( Africa CDC), John Nkengasong, told reporters:

“We cannot predict when the second doses will come, and that is not good for our vaccination programme.

“Africa lags behind most other regions in COVID- 19 vaccinations, with just less than 14 million doses having been administered on the continent of 1.3 billion.

“Ghana, for example, has administered around 742,000 doses of the 815,000 shots it has so far received and would run out by the end of next week.

“Even if Ghana had the money, they will not know where to go get the vaccine. That’s the challenge.”

So far, the majority of the vaccines available in African countries have been delivered via the World Health Organisation ( WHO)- backed COVAX facility, which aims to deliver 600 million shots to some 40 African countries this year, enough to vaccinate 20 per cent of their populations. The majority of those doses are Astrazeneca shots produced by the Serum Insitute of India. Read the remainder of this story on www. guardian. ng