COVID-19 vaccine: What Govt must do for those already vaccinated – Health experts

A group of public health researchers have called on the Nigerian government to urgently start strict monitoring of Nigerians vaccinated with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

According to the health experts, while the side effects that have been reported in some countries using the vaccine may not occur in Nigeria, the reports from those countries have further strengthened the need for a special focus on post-vaccination monitoring.

Recall that Denmark, Norway, and Iceland on Thursday temporarily suspended the use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine over concerns about patients developing post-vaccine blood clots.

Speaking on the development, a pharmaceutical research scientist with the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja, Prof. Martin Emeje, and a virologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Sunday Omilabu, said the report of side effects after vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine by some European countries underscores the need for proper monitoring of vaccinated Nigerians.

According to Prof. Emeje, Nigeria should have conducted a local trial with the AstraZeneca vaccine before rollout to know the side effects that could occur in the country, noting that Nigerians may have different side effects compared to Europeans.

“Now that rollout has begun in Nigeria, our best bet is to immediately put all those who have taken the vaccine and those going to take it under strict monitoring.

“Let me also say that the side effects being noticed in those countries may not show up here, ours may be different.

“In fact, the efficacy in our people maybe different too; it could be more efficacious, it could be useless, and this underscores the need for clinical trials,” he said.

When asked if it is not too late for a clinical trial, considering that Nigeria has commenced vaccine rollout, Emeje said, “The answer is no. The only thing is, we do it at our own cost instead of the product owner’s. In fact, for the umpteenth time, it is wrong to roll out any product without clinical trials.”

The pharmaceutical researcher also faults the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control for saying the AstraZeneca vaccine was safe, noting that such reassurance was not based on a valid local clinical trial.

“How did they know it is safe? Did they conduct any animal study here? Did they conduct any phase 1 clinical trial here?

“All they’re saying is simply based on studies conducted overseas, which is not abnormal in itself. But, the right thing was for studies, especially clinical trials, to be done on our population.

“This is the 21st century, not the 15th century or 450 BC. As a pharmaceutical scientist, I know that vaccines are generally safe, but like other drugs, they have side effects, but that doesn’t mean we should not do the right things,” Emeje said.

Also speaking with our correspondent, Prof Omilabu reiterated that monitoring of Nigerians vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine has become important.

“Post-vaccination monitoring is now very essential. People may not react the same way to the same vaccine. However, for every vaccine given, there are reactions. That is why people need to be properly monitored by doctors, particularly in the first 24 hours to 48 hours after vaccination,” he said.

The virologist said though he is yet to get any report of an adverse reaction from the COVID-19 vaccination in the country, Nigerians should be alert and not take things for granted.

“We have not heard of any adverse reaction yet, but that doesn’t mean there are none. Individuals should also be alert and not depend on only the government.

“The World Health Organisation is also monitoring the situation with AstraZeneca vaccine. That is what is required.

“We have been dealing with vaccines for over 100 years and we know that most people don’t have an adverse reaction. But, we also know that there are individuals that will have reactions, hence the need for proper post-vaccination monitoring.

“I know there are places in Europe that have reported blood clots and they have suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine to find out if there is a link between it and the condition.

“That has not happened here. It could happen. So we need to properly monitor things,” he said.

The WHO on Friday has however said there was no reason to stop using AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine after several countries suspended rollout over blood clot fears.

According to the WHO, its vaccines advisory committee was already examining the safety data coming in stressing that no causal link has been established between the AstraZeneca vaccine and clotting.

“Yes, we should continue using the AstraZeneca vaccine,” WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said, stressing that any safety concerns should be investigated.