NIDS Reassures Nigerians That COVID-19 Vaccines Are Safe and Effective

LAGOS  – The Nigeria Infectious Diseases Society (NIDS) has advised the general public to disregard misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines as scientific evidence suggests that the vaccines are safe and effective. 

The advice was contained in a statement by Prof. Dimle Ogoina, the President of NIDS, on COVID-19 Vaccination in Nigeria. 

Prof. Ogoina said the healthcare workers, persons with co-morbidities such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes who are at risk for COVID-19 and other high-risk groups as defined by relevant health authorities in Nigeria are advised to get vaccinated without delay as the country rolls out this first and subsequent phase of vaccination. 

He said all persons receiving COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria should ensure they report any vaccine-related side effects to the nearest vaccination centre for appropriate action.

The NIDS urged healthcare workers should be alert to the possibility of vaccine-related side effects and refer patients for appropriate expertize consultation and management. 

He said the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) and related health institutions in Nigeria should strengthen surveillance for vaccine-related adverse events of concern, such as blood clots. 

“There is an urgent need to build capacity and provide needed resources to enable early detection, diagnosis, and management of vaccine-related adverse events, including blood clots, should they occur among persons vaccinated in Nigeria. 

“There is also need to intensify awareness among the general public and confidence-building among healthcare workers about the safety and benefit of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and other COVID-19 vaccines that will be used in Nigeria in the future,” he said. 

Prof. Ogoina said that since current evidence suggests that COVID-19 vaccines protect against symptomatic disease but does not completely stop transmission of the virus, NIDS recommends that all Nigerian citizens, including those who have received COVID-19 vaccines, should continue to observe the COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical safety protocols such as the practice of social distancing, appropriate use of face masks and hand hygiene, among other measures. 

Prior to the foregoing recommendations, Prof. Ogoina said considering the ongoing challenges of vaccine hesitancy, the NIDS wishes to make the following observations and recommendations regarding the use of the AstraZeneca OOVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria: 

•Vaccination is established as one of the most effective public health interventions for disease prevention. 

•The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine was developed after a rigorous process of research and clinical trials and confirmed to be safe and effective in preventing symptomatic disease, reducing hospitalization and death from COVID-19. 

•Given its safety and benefits, the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine has been issued emergency use authorization by the WHO and several other regulatory agencies across the globe, including the regulatory agency of Nigeria 

•Since the issuance of such authorisations, well above 100 countries have begun using this vaccine, with over 40 million people vaccinated globally, including about 1 million people in Nigeria, already. 

•However, since the commencement of AstraZeneca vaccination in Nigeria, myths, misconceptions, and panic, with attendant vaccine hesitancy among the public and healthcare workers alike began to spread. 

•Serious of note among the concerns are that the AstraZeneca vaccine, alters human DNA and/or contains a “bug” or “Chip” that are intended to subdue or control human population. 

•Scientific and field observation research have shown no evidence to suggest that any COVID-19 vaccine, including AstraZeneca vaccine, alters the DNA of humans, or contains any ‘bug’ or ‘chip” of any form that is intended to control or subdue human populations. 

•Despite the safety and effectiveness of AstraZeneca vaccine, it may be associated with some minor side effects and very rare adverse events. No effective medicine or vaccine is without risk. 

•The more common side effects such as pain and tenderness around the injection site, fever, feeling unwell and joint pain often resolve completely after a few days, and represent the normal body response to the vaccine. 

•Very rarely, some persons may develop severe allergic reactions after vaccination, and this is not restricted to the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. 

•Based on reports mainly from European countries where over 37 million people have so far received the AstraZeneca vaccine, about 221 cases and 18 deaths were attributable to a rare blood clot that occurred within two weeks after vaccination. This represents a risk of 4 cases of blood clot for every 1 million people vaccinated. 

•The European Medicine Agency (EMA) and the WHO has maintained that despite these rare adverse events of blood clotting, the benefit of the AstraZeneca far outweighs the risk associated with the disease. 

•Of about 1 million people vaccinated in Nigeria so far, there are no confirmed reports of any adverse events of concern or incidences of blood clots among vaccinated persons. However, there have reports of self- limiting side effects among vaccinated Nigerians which is not unusual. 

•Consequently, the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine remains safe for the Nigerian population and scientific evidence suggests effective COVID-19 vaccination remains the best strategy to mitigate the impact and stop the COVID-19 spread of the pandemic globally, and in Nigeria.