Health Minister says NAFDAC has dossiers of four COVID-19 vaccines for evaluation

The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, on Monday, disclosed that the National Agency For Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has received the dossiers of four different COVID-19 vaccines for evaluation ahead of their usage in Nigeria.

Ehanire disclosed this at the weekly press briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja.

He said the results of some of the evaluations were almost already.

He further revealed that since all COVID-19 vaccines carry a certain amount of risk, any vaccines not approved by the Ministry of Health through its agencies cannot be used in Nigeria.

The minister said, “The National Agency For Drug Administration and Control 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.

“The government will not be responsible for the safety or efficacy of vaccines given outside the framework of the government.

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