TheCable

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has assured Nigerians that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine does not cause blood clot.

Faisal Shuaib, executive director of NPHCDA, cited the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) recent research that disputed claims on the danger of the vaccine.

“As you well know, the AstraZeneca vaccine is being used in many parts of the world. Even after the roll out suspension by some European countries over certain concerns raised, the WHO and its vaccine advisory committee has advised that there is no reason to stop using the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine,” he said.

“Similarly, the UK regulators have also determined that evidence does not suggest that the vaccine causes blood clots.”

Shuaib also said the low cost of the AstraZeneca vaccine does not make it inferior.

“It is important to note that none of the approved brands of COVID-19 vaccines is inferior. Understandably, the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine relatively costs less than the other available brands of COVID-19 vaccines,” he said.

“However, this is not because it is inferior. It is because AstraZeneca which partners with Oxford to produce the vaccine decided and announced that they would not be making profit during this pandemic.”

Netherlands is the latest country to suspend the administration of the vaccine, joining several others who have done so in reaction to the rising blood clot complaints from some recipients.

Nigeria has already begun vaccination with over 8,000 doses administered across the country so far.