NAFDAC approves use of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine — but only for emergency

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has given approval for the use of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria.

Mojisola Adeyeye, director-general of NAFDAC, made the announcement during a media briefing on Friday in Abuja.

The NAFDAC DG noted that the vaccine is for emergency use.

The approval is coming over two months after the agency greenlit the use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine in the country.

Nigeria received close to 4.5 million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine — 3.94 million delivered via the United Nations-led COVAX facility, while others are donations from India and private organisations.

The rollout began on March 5, and according to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), more than one million Nigerians have received the first dose of the vaccine.

Faisal Shuaib, executive director of NPHCDA, had said 8,439 Nigerians reported mild side effects after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine.

On April 26, the federal government announced that it was expecting to receive 29.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine through the African Union (AU).

The government also said it will take delivery of more vaccines through the UN-led COVAX facility before the end of June.