FG insists that AstraZeneca vaccine is safe for Nigerians,

Following the growing criticism of the safety of the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, the federal government has insisted that it’s safe for Nigerians.

National Incident Manager of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Dr Mukhtar Muhammad said clinical trials had shown that side effects are generally mild.

According to the manager, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had in the last three days, through series of briefings, vouched for the vaccine’s safety and efficacy, adding that it had been proven to have about 70% efficacy level.

“The Nigerian health sector, the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, are working also, not only to reassure Nigerians but also to make a determination and to continue to get information regarding any side effects that people are experiencing in this country.

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“So, with this, I will say that the available information from clinical trials has shown that the vaccine is generally safe and efficacious and that it has an efficacy of about 70%.

“The side effects are usually mild, which include fever, cough, symptoms of cold and maybe the general feeling of unwell,” he said.

However, he also urged political and religious leaders not to make unverified comments. Of which according to him he is capable of sending wrong and misleading signals to the public on the management of the health crisis.

He advised that expert advice should be sought before directing the public of the situation.