NAFDAC: Minimal risks of AstraZeneca vaccine better than dying of COVID-19

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says contending with the minimal side effects of AstraZeneca vaccine is better than dying of COVID-19 complications.

Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC director-general, said this in an interview with Channels Television on Wednesday.

“It is logical to think that way but when you come to think of the many hundred of thousands that are dying, especially in Europe, of COVID disease, then you start wondering, is it better to die than take a risk of 0.00002%?

“I don’t blame [countries halting the administration of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine] but, at the same time, we have to look at the risk of getting COVID-19 disease versus the risk of getting a side effect of the adverse effects.”

The Cable had reported the suspension of the AstraZeneca vaccine by several European countries amid the reports of blood clot by some recipients.

The development created fear and aided the anti-vaccine sentiment being spread around.

Adeyeye said these countries are pausing vaccination for only a limited period.

“Some of those countries that have halted it, they are halting it very temporarily,” she said.

The NAFDAC DG reiterated the position of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) that evidence has shown the vaccine may not be the cause of blood clot in some recipients.

”The blood clot has not been tied to the vaccine. They are still studying it because you have what is called causality: what is causing this? There is so much to learn about the disease, about the vaccine,” she said.