Covid-19 vaccine: Only Pfizer-BioNTech granted emergency listing - NAFDAC
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has raised the alarm that there are fake vaccines in circulation in Nigeria, as it warns unsuspecting members of the public to beware and do not order any vaccine online.
Revealing this in a recent Zoom meeting with journalists, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, Director General, NAFDAC, said that of the available global vaccines, including Moderna, AstraZeneca, only Pfizer-BioNTech has received emergency listing in the country.
Adeyeye stressed that it has neither received nor approve any COVID-19 vaccine from manufacturers for use in the country and warned against unauthorised orders.
The Director-General said, "NAFDAC agency has not received any application from COVID-19 Vaccine manufacturers yet and therefore no vaccines have been approved by NAFDAC.
"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.
"There are reports of fake vaccines in Nigeria. NAFDAC is pleading with the public to beware. No COVID-19 Vaccines have been approved by NAFDAC. Fake vaccines can cause Covid-19 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."
Adeyeye strongly warned, "No government establishment or agencies should order COVID-19 vaccines without confirming from NAFDAC if the vaccine has been approved."
The NAFDAC Boss, explained that the agency is discussing with manufactures of candidate COVID-19 vaccines concerning potential Emergency Use Authorization, EUA registration or licensing of their product as the case may be. The Agency assures applicants that if Phase 3 clinical data are very convincing and robust with regards to safety and efficacy, and the vaccine has been submitted for WHO for Emergency Use Listing, NAFDAC will welcome the application for Emergency Use Authorisation in Nigeria.
