Nigeria is yet to approve any vaccines for the COVID-19 virus, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has said Friday.
Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, made these known in Abuja during a virtual media briefing.
“The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has not received any application from Covid Vaccine manufacturers yet and therefore no vaccines have been approved by NAFDAC,” Adeyeye said.
“Covid-19 vaccines are new, and the side effects or adverse events must be well monitored, therefore, if NAFDAC does not approve, the public should not use them,” she explained.
The agency warned that fake vaccines were being circulated in the country, and advised members of the public against buying such drugs being peddled around. It said such drugs can cause illnesses similar to COVID-19, and even lead to death.
NAFDAC warned government establishments, agencies, and big corporations against ordering COVID vaccines without confirmation from the agency whether such vaccines have been approved.
“There are reports of fake vaccines in Nigeria. NAFDAC is pleading with the public to beware.
“No Covid Vaccines have been approved by NAFDAC. Fake vaccines can cause Covid-like illnesses or other serious diseases that could kill.
“Vaccines should not be ordered by any company or corporation. The companies that manufacture the vaccines if they are genuine companies know they have to submit their application to NAFDAC.
“No government establishment or agencies should order Covid vaccines without confirming from NAFDAC if the vaccine has been approved,” Adeyeye said.
She spoke a day after Health Minister Osagie Ehanire, said in a statement that Nigeria will receive 10 million doses of coronavirus vaccine in March. He explained that the vaccines add to 100,000 expected doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
Adeyeye spoke against the background of rising cases of the pandemic in Nigeria in recent weeks, with daily infections in excess of 1,000.
