The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Thursday announced it had given permission for emergency use of three COVID-19 vaccines – Moderna, AstraZeneca (from Korea) and Sputnik V.
This was disclosed by the Director-General of the NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of rising incidences of the COVID-19 infections under the Third Wave of the pandemic, especially Delta Variant.
NAFDAC explained that the AstraZeneca approved is from Korea, due to the difficulty in the procurement of AstraZeneca vaccine, also known as Covishield, manufactured under licence by Serum Institute of India as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic upsurge in that country.
The NAFDAC had previously approved AstraZeneca (India), Pfizer bioNTech and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines, in February and May 2021, respectively.
Adeyeye explained NAFDAC’s vaccine committee had to expedite the review of the vaccines based on emergency use listing (EUL) given by the World Health Organisation (WHO) or approval by stringent regulatory countries.
She further explained that NADAC has reviewed the vaccines to ascertain their quality, safety and efficacy, noting that their benefits exceed the risks.
Adeyeye explained that the emergency use listing being adopted by Nigeria will allow the country to receive vaccines from COVAX facility.
There has been concern over the quality of the vaccine entering into the country, by NAFDAC uses a track-and-trace or traceability system to prevent fake vaccines from infiltrating the system and stall the divergence of vaccines across the country.
The resurgence in COVID-19 pandemic attacks has led to new measures being adopted by various organisations in the country to reduce the spread.
On Wednesday, the University of Lagos asked all students to vacate the hostels by mid-day Thursday (today). The Senate of the institution said the action followed the infection of some of the students by the virus.
UNILAG said that lectures for the rest of the second semester will be delivered online starting from July 27.
Also, the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr) Sikiru Adetona, on Thursday announced the cancellation of this year’s edition of the yearly Ojude Oba Festival, which was scheduled to hold next.
A statement issued by the coordinator of the festival and Baagbimo of Ijebu, Chief Fassy Yusuf, quoted the ruler as blaming the cancellation on detection of COVID-19 Delta variant in Nigeria “and the negligible number of people that had taken the anti-COVID 19 vaccine”.
“Rather than expose peoples who will converge in Ijebu Ode from all over the world to participate in the ancient and unique socio-cultural and religious festival of the Ijebu nation, with its parade of traditional-age groups and the spectacular durbar with unsurpassable equestrian display, to avoidable and preventable health hazards, the monarch directed that the 2021 edition be cancelled,” the statement said.
“This is the second time in its known history of more than one Century that the festival that unites Muslims, Christians, and adherents of other faiths will be cancelled. The Ojude Oba Festival is normally held two days after the Eid-el Kabir (Ileya),” it noted.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Thursday announced it had given permission for emergency use of three COVID-19 vaccines – Moderna, AstraZeneca (from Korea) and Sputnik V.
This was disclosed by the Director-General of the NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of rising incidences of the COVID-19 infections under the Third Wave of the pandemic, especially Delta Variant.
NAFDAC explained that the AstraZeneca approved is from Korea, due to the difficulty in the procurement of AstraZeneca vaccine also known as Covishield, manufactured under licence by Serum Institute of India as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic upsurge in that country.
The NAFDAC had previously approved AstraZeneca (India), Pfizer bioNTech and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines, in February and May 2021, respectively.
Adeyeye explained NAFDAC’s vaccine committee had to expedite the review of the vaccines based on emergency use listing (EUL) given by the World Health Organisation (WHO) or approval by stringent regulatory countries.
She further explained that NADAC has reviewed the vaccines to ascertain their quality, safety and efficacy, noting that their benefits exceed the risks.
Adeyeye explained that the emergency use listing being adopted by Nigeria will allow the country to receive vaccines from COVAX facility.
There has been concern over the quality of the vaccine entering into the country, by NAFDAC uses a track-and-trace or traceability system to prevent fake vaccines from infiltrating the system and stall the divergence of vaccines across the country.
The resurgence in the COVID-19 pandemic attacks has led to new measures being adopted by various organisations in the country to reduce the spread.
On Wednesday, the University of Lagos asked all students to vacate the hostels by mid-day Thursday (today). The Senate of the institution said the action followed the infection of some of the students by the virus.
UNILAG said that lectures for the rest of the second semester will be delivered only starting from July 27.
Also, the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr) Sikiru Adetona, on Thursday announced the cancelation of this year’s edition of the yearly Ojude Oba Festival, which was scheduled to hold next.
A statement issued by the coordinator of the festival and Baagbimo of Ijebu, Chief Fassy Yusuf, quoted the ruler as blaming the cancellation on detection of COVID-19 Delta variant in Nigeria “and the negligible number of people that had taken the anti-COVID 19 vaccine”.
“Rather than expose peoples who will converge in Ijebu Ode from all over the world to participate in the ancient and unique socio-cultural and religious festival of the Ijebu nation, with its parade of traditional-age groups and the spectacular durbar with unsurpassable equestrian display, to avoidable and preventable health hazards, the monarch directed that the 2021 edition be cancelled,” the statement said.
“This is the second time in its known history of more than one Century that the festival that unites Muslims, Christians, and adherents of other faiths will be cancelled. The Ojude Oba Festival is normally held two days after the Eid-el Kabir (Ileya),” it noted.
